We haven't been in this position before: Amla

South Africa opener Hashim Amla says his team is not used to the hammering that it has received in the ongoing ODI series against India and the emphatic nature of defeat has taken the Proteas back to the drawing board ahead of the World Cup next year.

India won a historic maiden ODI series on the South African soil with a 73-run win in the fifth ODI at Port Elizabeth. The sixth and final match will be played in Centurion on Friday.

"I don't think in one-day cricket we have been in this position. Maybe in 2008 in England, when we didn't have a good one-day series but there are always positives and learning to take from it," Amla told reporters on Thursday.

"We've got a few younger guys in the team who will think, 'Phew, one-day cricket is tough.' But thankfully it will only get easier for them because we haven't played our best cricket. We've played decent cricket in patches but sub-par cricket from what we're used to."

Amla would like to believe that the loss against India is a blessing in disguise ahead of the World Cup in England.

"When it comes to other series or World Cups we'll be better prepared. Also we have won so many series in the past back to back, we were very fortunate and none of us took it for granted. But to lose a series like this gets your feet back on the ground.

"As a one-day unit you are always searching for certain things here or there, and I'm sure this has given us that impetus. When you're playing well and someone has a brilliant innings, cracks can be covered. But when you lose in this manner, whatever adjustments need to be made, you focus on it more. For me that's a very positive thing," said the opener.

Amla said there will be a lot of pride at stake for the hosts in the sixth and final ODI.

"The World Cup is not far away. India are probably playing their best team. Whatever experience we get against them we will take forward. It is (easy to motivate ourselves). At every stage in the series you look at the positives.

"Now the positive is you want to end the series on a good note. The coach has a long-term vision and a few ideas up his sleeve, and he has the opportunity to play that. That will give us motivation," he said.