COMMENT: It's nothing new, they've done it before
PROTEAS celebrate the wicket of Australia's Marnus Labuschagne on day two of the ICC World Test Championship Final at Lord's. | BackpagePix
MANY may look at South Africa's batting performance at Lord's on Friday and be surprised, and some may even be shocked that this batting unit, one that is heavily criticised, has been able to get the team within 69 runs of the country's first world title.
However, for those who pay close attention to detail, they will be able to remember that this unit has done this before in the recent past.
When India toured South Africa four years ago, after thumping the Proteas by 113 runs during the Boxing Day Test in Centurion, where they bowled the Proteas out for under 200 runs in both innings, the Proteas bounced back in style to win the series 2-1.
It all started at the Bullring where Dean Elgar and Temba Bavuma chased down 240 runs to level the series and concluded at the picturesque Newlands in Cape Town where Keegan Petersen and Rassie van der Dussen helped South Africa chase down another 200 plus target to seal the 2-1 series victory over a team that was ranked number in Tests at the time.
Elgar, Petersen and Van der Dussen might not be a part of this group at Lord's; however, it was still a Proteas batting unit that was labelled as 'inexperienced' and as the 'weak links' in a team that had a bowling unit filled with superstars, including Kagiso Rabada.
Despite all the labels, the side was able to clinch a series victory, a victory that forced world cricket to sit up and take note of the Proteas test side.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Herald
28 minutes ago
- The Herald
Hamstring injury rules Bavuma out of Proteas' Zimbabwe Tests
Reuters reports that Zimbabwe have included uncapped seamer Kundai Matigimu in their 16-player squad for the series. Matigimu, 27, earns a maiden call-up with Richard Ngarava unavailable due to a back injury. Batter Ben Curran is also out with a fractured finger. Prince Masvaure and Takudzwanashe Kaitano are back in the squad to bolster the batting, while leg-spinner Vincent Masekesa also earns a recall. The team will be led by captain Craig Ervine. The first Test will be played from June 28 to July 2 at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo, with the second from July 6 to 10. Zimbabwe squad Craig Ervine (capt), Brian Bennett, Tanaka Chivanga, Trevor Gwandu, Takudzwanashe Kaitano, Wesley Madhevere, Clive Madande, Vincent Masekesa, Wellington Masakadza, Prince Masvaure, Kundai Matigimu, Blessing Muzarabani, Newman Nyamhuri, Tafadzwa Tsiga, Nicholas Welch and Sean Williams Proteas squad David Bedingham, Matthew Breetzke, Dewald Brevis, Corbin Bosch, Tony de Zorzi, Zubayr Hamza, Keshav Maharaj (capt), Kwena Maphaka, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Lhuan-dré Pretorious, Lesego Senokwane, Prenelan Subrayen, Kyle Verreynne, Codi Yusuf
The Citizen
an hour ago
- The Citizen
OPINION: Bavuma has silenced his doubters, but some of the criticism was fair
It's disrespectful to treat the Proteas Test captain like a child made of glass. Temba Bavuma led the Proteas to victory in the World Test Championship final against Australia in London last week. Picture: Alex Davidson/ICC/Getty Images There's a perspective that has emerged from some quarters that Temba Bavuma cannot be criticised. How condescending. Public figures, including professional athletes, will always be held to account more than the general public. It's a natural byproduct of fame and fortune. And as the captain of the Proteas cricket team, Bavuma will be a target of criticism, as is the case with any other national skippers or elite sport stars. According to some, however, Bavuma cannot be treated with the same level of respect as other professional athletes. When we talk about him, we need to put kid gloves on and punch lightly. Bavuma is not made of glass After the Proteas returned home this week with the World Test Championship mace, Bavuma's supporters took the opportunity to defend him, including sports minister Gayton McKenzie. Speaking at a press conference after the team's arrival, McKenzie laid into members of the media who have called out Bavuma in the past when the top-order batter has experienced slumps and not delivered. And he's not alone. Even some members of the media refuse to criticise Bavuma. They place him in a cushioned box as if he's so fragile that the slightest knock will break him. McKenzie also claimed this week that those of us who have called out Bavuma in the past cannot praise him now because we previously 'said he was sh**'. That's completely absurd. To be criticised when you play poorly and lauded when you play well is standard for any elite athlete in any sport. It comes with the territory. Fair criticism It would be ridiculous for analysts to simply praise athletes all the time, regardless of their performances, in the hope that one day they will come good. The media needs to be fair, objective and honest. What Bavuma has achieved as captain of the national Test team over the last couple of years has been phenomenal. Having gone unbeaten in 10 matches as skipper and leading the SA squad to a historic victory in last week's World Test Championship final (on top of his incredible run of form with the bat) he has earned icon status in South African sport for his recent accomplishments. But that doesn't change the fact that he hasn't always delivered, especially in limited overs formats, and much of the criticism he's received (or some of it, at the very least) has been deserved, especially after the 2023 World Cup in India where he just didn't perform. Special immunity Giving Bavuma special privileges and suggesting he can't be fairly criticised is completely condescending. He's not a child playing mini-cricket. He's the captain of the national team, and he's only criticised because of the calibre of player he is. It's because of his role in the squad, and his tremendous ability, that we expect as much as we do from him. To refuse to criticise him is to suggest we don't expect anything from him in the first place. Bavuma deserves more respect than that.
The Star
9 hours ago
- The Star
Temba Bavuma out of Zimbabwe tour, Keshav Maharaj to captain Proteas
Proteas Men's Test captain Temba Bavuma has been ruled out of the upcoming two-match Test series against Zimbabwe due to a left hamstring strain. Bavuma sustained the injury while batting during South Africa's second innings on day three of the ICC World Test Championship Final against Australia at Lord's Cricket Ground. He is set to undergo further scans to assess the extent of the injury. The 35-year-old batted through the injury in the final in a move that helped steer the Proteas to a five-wicket victory over Australia, securing the country's first ICC trophy in 27 years. No replacement has been named for Bavuma, and in his absence, Keshav Maharaj will captain the side for the first time in Tests. Fast bowler Lungi Ngidi, having also played a key role in the Test Championship final last week, where he took three wickets in the second innings, including that of Steve Smith, is only available for selection for the second Test of the tour. With the two senior players not available for selection in the first Test, it means that South Africa's uncapped players, including Lesego Senokwane, Dewald Brevis, Lhuan-dré Pretorius, Codi Yusuf and Prenelan Subrayen, could get their maiden baggy greens at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo. Capped batters, Matthew Breetzke and Zubayr Hamza, are also in with a good chance to have yet another crack in Test cricket, having last played Test cricket last year. Tony de Zorzi, who did not play in the New Year's Test match against Pakistan earlier this year and the Test Championship final at Lord's last week, will have a crucial opportunity to play against Zimbabwe and challenge for the opening spot when the full-strength team returns to action later this year. The two Test matches do not fall within the 2025-2027 ICC World Test Championship cycle but will play a key role in giving the fringe players an important exposure to Test cricket and thus widen the talent pool for the Test team. The squad will depart for Bulawayo on Tuesday, 24 June, from OR Tambo International Airport. The first Test gets underway on Saturday, 28 June, followed by the second Test from Sunday, 06 July, with both matches taking place at Queens Sports Club. South Africa Test Squad against Zimbabwe Keshav Maharaj (captain), David Bedingham, Matthew Breetzke, Dewald Brevis, Corbin Bosch, Tony de Zorzi, Zubayr Hamza, Kwena Maphaka, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Lhuan-dré Pretorius, Lesego Senokwane, Prenelan Subrayen, Kyle Verreynne and Codi Yusuf.
