Proteas working towards bigger picture - Rob Walter

The next big picture in the 20-over format is the 2026 Men's T20 World Cup in Sri Lanka and India, with the intention presently being to grow the selection pool.

Winning the three-match Pakistan series 2-0 is but a small step in the right direction towards the goal, says Walter.

"Ja, like, you always start at the end point and work your way back, and understand what are the processes and steps you need to put in place," said Walter.

"It's not linear, it never works out just exactly as you planned it, the team's always changing, you get broken toes the day before the series starts, so things have to be fluid.

"But, ultimately ja, we've got a very strong idea of the parts of our game that we're working on, the way we want to play, and the attributes of the players that we want to fit into the way we want to play, so we just keep building on that.

"These bilaterals are massively important for that, we keep learning lessons – our younger guys learnt great lessons against India, and were able to be better against Pakistan and the losses turned into wins, so it's all part of the process to 2026 really."

Some of the bowling displays left much to be desired by what was a relatively young and inexperienced attack, which leaked 23 extras in Durban, but Walter assures the players know what to work on as the Proteas' 20-over format goes on recess until next Spring.

"Ja, most importantly we have to just keep putting them into the battle. A lot of the extras are a result of being under pressure," he defended.

"[It's about] trying to understand what happens to you personally when you're at the top of your mark and the batter is bossing the show at that point in time, and what do you do about it – you win some of those battles and others you don't.

"We're by no means happy with specifically the extras count, but it's not like we don't talk about it, and it's not like we're not working on it.

"Unfortunately as the bilaterals turn around quickly, back-to-back days, so you're never really in a practice environment where you can practice getting better at it, it's more actually what happens between series.

"So, it's just providing the guys real clarity when they leave as to where they want to work on, but they're all very clear as to where we want to be better and the things we can be better at.

"And it's a process – how many guys start their journey and are perfect? No one. So it's about just chipping away and improving in small increments over time, and they'll add up to large wins."

READ: Nortje ruled out of remainder of Pakistan white-ball series