A Cricket South Africa (CSA) online survey has revealed that 96 per cent of fans agreed that 2008 was the most successful year for South African cricket.
This came just days after CSA feted the Proteas in a glittering tribute at the 2009 SA Cricket Awards ceremony in Johannesburg.
CSA CEO Gerald Majola said the online fan survey demonstrated the kind of support cricket enjoyed among the people in South Africa.
"This support is graphically illustrated in the most positive response to the online fan survey conducted on CSA's website," he said.
"We will study the results to ensure that we keep in touch with the fans. Their support was a critical factor in taking the Proteas to the world's top ODI spot and second in the Test rankings, and achieving the best results in South African cricket history over the 2008-09 season," said Majola.
"From May last year to April 2009, the Proteas achieved unparalleled success in the history of South African cricket, either before or after cricket unity in 1990, winning away Test series in both England and Australia and both the home and away ODI series against Australia," added Majola.
The online survey which ran concurrently with face-to-face research was launched by CSA in association with IFM Sports Marketing Surveys to better understand the modern cricket fan following the Proteas unprecedented successes over Australia.
It ran for just over three weeks on the CSA website (www.cricket.co.za), drawing nearly 550 responses.
The survey also revealed that 85.1 per cent of the participants were now more positive about supporting the Proteas due to their performance over the past 12 months, while 68 percent added that they considered themselves as fanatical cricket supporters.
"Participants said words that came to mind when describing the Proteas were professional, likeable and traditional," Majola said.
"The final report on the fan survey, which will include analysis of the face-to-face fan research, will be released in the next few weeks," he added.