Proteas captain Temba Bavuma says the World Test Championship final against Australia at Lord’s Cricket Ground in England from June 11-15 will be a career highlight. KHUNULOGO MPOLOKENG reports.
After yesterday’s squad announcement, Bavuma was asked if it would be a bigger event than last year’s T20 World Cup final against India in Barbados, which the Proteas lost.
“Depends on the result, right?” he responded.
“The occasion, being at Lord’s, the home of cricket, coming up against our arch-enemies Australia … There’s always drama and fire against them, and I guess it will be no different.
“And also the fact that it’s Test cricket, which has taken a back seat globally. T20 is the thing. So for us to have the opportunity to prop up Test cricket here at home will be a great responsibility and lovely to be a part of.
“And like we’ve always said, the opportunity for us to bring silverware for the faithful here at home also makes it much more of a bigger event.
“You can ask the question on June 15, maybe I’ll have a different answer, but yes it will definitely be a highlight of my career.”
Tony de Zorzi, Tristan Stubbs, and David Bedingham were all named in the Proteas’ 15-man squad, with coach Shukri Conrad confirming that Aiden Markram and Ryan Rickleton would open the batting at Lord’s.
Pace bowler Lungi Ngidi returns to the Test fold for the first time since October 2024, but there is no room for Gerald Coetzee or Anrich Nortje.
Spinner Dane Piedt also misses out, with Keshav Maharaj and Senuran Muthusamy the two frontline spinners.
“We always select the best 15 [squad] for the conditions as well as the opposition that we’re playing against,” said Bavuma. “To be honest, after the Pakistan series we kind of knew where we wanted to go.
“Yes, there were considerations from the bowling point of view: The guys with the extra bit of pace. From the spin department you think of a guy like Dane Piedt because he contributed.
“There weren’t a lot of [squad selection] headaches, but when it comes to the [playing] XI, once we’ve seen the conditions I think deeper conversations will need to be had.”
Squad news: Conrad sticks with core group for WTC final
Bavuma said it was easy to back the selection of Ngidi.
“Like Shukri said, you’d put Gerald and Ana in the same category from a fitness point of view, so that would be too much of a risk [to include them].
“In terms of familiarity, I don’t think Kwena [Maphaka] has played in the UK, so throwing in a young guy like that would be a big ask for him.
“Lungi gives you experience, he’s played in those conditions. Lungi has been around. From what I’ve seen captaining him, if you get a fit and motivated Lungi, you know what you’re going to get.
“As I see it, there’s no massive risk [selecting him]. He’s one of the senior players in the team, so if we speak about bowling plans, we’re all going to listen to what Lungi has to say.”
Also read: WTC final must trump IPL – Proteas coach
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