AUSTRALIA TOUR TO SA
Zaahier Adams|Published
An entire generation grew up in the new South Africa without knowing what it felt like for the Proteas to beat Australia in a Test series.
Then, in 2008, it happened in dramatic fashion at the MCG. The “JP Duminy, you superstar” series. And then again, in consecutive away series in 2012 and 2016.
Suddenly, beating the Aussies became almost normal. Yet it took Australian cricket’s spectacular meltdown in 2018 for the Proteas to win their only home Test series against Australia since the end of Apartheid.
For South Africans, then, giving the Aussies a snotklap remains a pretty big deal. It is one reason the World Test Championship triumph at Lord’s meant just that little bit more.
Temba Bavuma’s team have the opportunity to claim the world No 1 Test ranking if they overcome the Baggy Greens in the series decider, which starts at Newlands on Tuesday. The prize is hugely significant and would also put them in a stronger position to return to the promised land at The Oval next June.
But the next five days are not about the sideshows, let alone the future. This is about the here and now, and taking down an Australian side that showed its teeth when the teams last met in 2022, humbling the Proteas 2-0 Down Under.
“Look, I think it’s exciting, firstly, that we managed to get it to this point. One-one, you come to Newlands, not many better places to play cricket,” Bavuma said.
“And then I think in terms of the bigger picture, yes, there’s an opportunity for us to get closer to potentially being closer to the finals. Also the No 1 ranking, there’s value in it. It shows that you’ve consistently played well over a certain period of time.
“But I think for me, there’s a massive desire there [to win the series], especially for the older guys.
“I think of the last Test series when we played in Australia, where they bullied us in their backyard and they played unbelievable cricket.
“There’s that motivation from us to right those wrongs and also to look after our record, our home record as well, here at home, playing against Australia. So I think there’s a lot to it.
“I don’t feel I have to motivate anyone to ensure that the result goes our way.”
The Proteas have no intention of taking a backward step after bouncing back emphatically in Gqeberha last week. The inclusion of fast bowler Gerald Coetzee for the injured Anrich Nortje is a bold statement of intent.
The conservative option would have been to select experienced seamer Dane Paterson on his home ground. Instead, coach Shukri Conrad and Bavuma have backed Coetzee’s X-factor pace to deliver the kind of game-changing spells that can swing a Test.
“In terms of how we balance our bowling attack, you want the guy who can play that enforcer role, especially when the wicket gets flat, when the wicket gets soft,” Bavuma said.
“Gerald is a guy who can do that. He’s a guy who we believe has the ability to make a big play for the team.”
With both sides boasting high-quality attacks, the series could ultimately be decided by which batting line-up stands up under pressure.
The first two Tests featured individual heroics from Matt Renshaw at Kingsmead and Bavuma at St George’s Park, with valuable support from the lower order. Now it is time for the top orders to take responsibility on a surface that could be tailor-made for long stays at the crease.
“The wicket generally is a good wicket,” Bavuma said. “I think the batters will be smiling if they’re able to get themselves in.
“But we’re still trying to find that consistency, that stability there. I think I said it a couple of weeks ago, sometimes certain batters are going to have to do the heavy lifting for the team.
“And we’re very much comfortable with that as a batting group. We want to see guys go out and do special things for the team. And over the next five days, there will be that opportunity. So we’d like to focus our minds really on what’s in front of us.”
PROTEAS TEAM FOR THE THIRD TEST AGAINST AUSTRALIA
Aiden Markram, Marques Ackerman, David Bedingham, Temba Bavuma, Matthew Breetzke, Ryan Rickelton (wk), Wiaan Mulder, Marco Jansen, Simon Harmer, Gerald Coetzee, Kagiso Rabada.