By Jonathan Agnew BBC cricket correspondent

Things are looking up for England, despite the rain in South Africa

It was a rotten way for the series to end, with the final match completely washed out, but as they watched the draw for the football World Cup being drawn in their hotel bar, England's cricketers rightly celebrated their achievement.

In becoming only the second team to beat South Africa at home in a bilateral series, they ended an unbeaten run of 15 series.

While the games were rather topsy-turvy, with both teams suffering heavy defeats along the way, no-one could argue with the outcome.

Alastair Cook's unfortunate injury might prove to have great significance for England, until next year's cricket World Cup, at least.

Jonathan Trott's subsequent promotion to open the innings with Andrew Strauss looks to have been the best thing to have happened to England's one-day team for some time.

The only batsman who appears to have some work to do is Kevin Pietersen

He batted with just the right blend of solidity and sensible aggression, and while bowlers will work on his strong preference for the leg side, and force him to adapt, he looks more than capable of adjusting.

Strauss, for one, is very impressed with Trott's work ethic.

Paul Collingwood also enjoyed a fine series, taking a brilliant catch to go with his unbeaten hundred, and his 86. In particular, he will take this confidence with him into the Test series, and the only batsman who appears to have some work to do is Kevin Pietersen.

Pietersen will have plenty of opportunity in East London this week to spend the time at the crease he clearly needs in order to get back into the groove after such a long lay-off.

He missed out in Port Elizabeth, where there was an opportunity to do that, and his frustration showed as he walked off swishing his bat in annoyance, but these are early days for him.

The best thing to report from this series is that England have the makings of becoming a decent one-day team.

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It seems strange to say that after their terrible series against Australia, but they have clearly drawn a line under that and have come out determined to play in a more positive fashion. They bat a long way down now, and the fielding is above average.

With 16 months to go until the World Cup, they have time to build on this and go into the tournament with real ambition.

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