An away venue at home: The Proteas' shocking recent Test record at Kingsmead

JANUARY 2008 - BEAT WEST INDIES BY AN INNINGS AND 100 RUNS

Under pressure after unexpectedly losing the opener of a three-Test series, the Proteas fought back to go into this decider at 1-all.

It was an auspicious occasion for the legendary Shaun Pollock, who would make his final appearance in the pinnacle form of the game on his home-ground.

The wily technician spearheaded bowling the Windies out for 139 in their first innings with figures of 4/35 before taking another important scalp in the second to end a magnificent career on 421 victims.

In between, Graeme Smith (147), Ashwell Prince (123*) and AB de Villiers (103*) hit centuries as South Africa declared on a colossal 556/4.

MARCH 2009 - LOST TO AUSTRALIA BY 175 RUNS

This was the stage where a 20-year-old left-hander named Phil Hughes took the international game by storm.

He raced to a 151-ball 115 in the first dig, cracking 19 fours and two sixes, as the Aussies tallied 352 despite a decent comeback from the home attack.

South Africa were then scarred by Mitchell Johnson at his vicious best as he sent the top order into the tail-spin and broke one of Smith's fingers.

JP Duminy stood firm with an unbeaten 73 in a miserable effort of 138 before Hughes knuckled down for a more sedate 160 as Ricky Ponting declared on 331/5.

Chasing 546, Jacques Kallis (93) and De Villiers' (84) stand of 187 raised hopes of survival, but another collapse put paid to such hopes.

DECEMBER 2009 - LOST TO ENGLAND BY AN INNINGS AND 98 RUNS

Batting first, the Proteas seemed to have made a competitive 343, underpinned by twins 75s from Smith and Kallis.

But Alistair Cook's 118 provided the platform for a compelling middle- and lower-order batting effort from the English, who would reach 574/9 thanks to Ian