He suffered from severe sinusitis during the early part of the tour and spent time in hospital in Perth and Brisbane, where an operation after the First Test relieved the condition. He scored 454 runs at 64.85 and took 11 wickets at 38.18 in the five Tests against Australia, and led his young side to a one-all result with three Tests drawn. Sir Donald Bradman said he had "little doubt the South African side should have won the series" had they, and especially Goddard, had more confidence in their ability. Wally Grout agreed, saying, "Time and time again in the series, when a little boldness would have carried them through, they chose caution." Nevertheless, Goddard believed that, after the victory in the Fourth Test, "South Africa had at long last come out of its post-war chrysalis and had spread its wings as a Test-winning nation".