Proteas hold onto precious little positives after series defeat against West Indies

Van der Dussen, who is not part of the World Cup squad, was standing in for regular captain Aiden Markram but saw his team go down 3-0 in the three-match series in the Caribbean.

On the batting front, opener Quinton de Kock found some form with a 17-ball 41 in the second match while Reeza Hendricks struck a career-best 87 in the first game then followed up with 34.

Young spinner Nqaba Peter did well in the two matches that he played while fellow slow-bowler Bjorn Fortuin also showed how valuable he could be at the global tournament.

Van der Dussen said after a thumping eight-wicker defeat in Jamaica: "I think you've got to look for those things, like Quinny getting back into form; the way Reeza batted; the youngster Nqaba Peter making his debut and looking like he's been playing for a few years already; and Bjorn Fortuin bowled well at stages.

"So there were some glimpses here and there, which we've got to look for, but I think overall we were short of the mark by quite a long way this week."

The Proteas were missing their entire middle-order in the series with skipper Markram, David Miller, Heinrich Klaasen and Tristan Stubbs set to join the squad this week in preparation for their opening World Cup match against Sri Lanka on 3 June in New York.

Van der Dussen has no doubt that the class of those players will shine through at the tournament and added: "The guys are very experienced. Many of them have played CPL a few times.

"We don't know what conditions we're going to get in the USA but the middle order is made up of very experienced, world-class players."

The biggest worry for Proteas coach Rob Walter will be the lack of form and fitness of some of his fast bowlers, with Anrich Nortje going wicketless in two matches against the Windies.

Ottneil Baartman impressed on debut in the series opener but then sat out the remaining matches as a precaution after picking up a lower limb strain.

Kagiso Rabada was ruled out of the three games due to a soft tissue infection but is expected to to be fit ahead of the World Cup opener. 

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