Former captain Graeme Smith believes Temba Bavuma’s “calm and assured” leadership will be key to the Proteas’ chances in the World Test Championship final against Australia at Lord’s next month.
Smith famously lifted the golden ICC Test mace at Lord’s back in 2012 after leading the Proteas to the No 1 Test ranking.
The Proteas have an opportunity to reclaim the coveted mace at the very same hallowed venue 13 years later, but enter the final as “underdogs” against the defending champions.
Unlike Smith’s hardened 2012 veterans, Bavuma will lead a greenhorn Proteas side whose most experienced player is fast bowler Kagiso Rababa with 70 caps.
The skipper, who has also yet to play at Lord’s, will therefore have a critical role to play in ensuring the occasion does not overwhelm his team.
“Arriving at Lords, there can be a lot of fanfare because it’s people’s first experience of the museum, the ground, the traditions that come with it, the Members Stand,” Smith exclusively told Independent Media on the Indy Sports Show.
“Often it’s about getting those little things out of the way and dealing with it pre-game. It is just an amazing place to go and play cricket and to have a World Championship final there, adds to the occasion.
“I think Temba will go about it his own way though. He’s not a guy that shouts from the rooftops. He’s calm and assured.”
Bavuma has been the Proteas’ leading Test batter over the past two years, averaging 60.90, in the red-ball arena.
Smith, whose name is up on the honours board for the highest score by an overseas player after he struck a double century in his first Test at Lord’s in 2003, feels that Bavuma’s role with the willow will be critical to the mood in the Proteas dressingroom.
“We know that they’ve got certain challenges they’re going to need to overcome against a very successful Australian team. They’re the underdogs,” Smith said.
“The most important thing for Temba is his performance with the bat. There’s a lot of players in that line-up that can bat around a Temba, and with his consistent performance of late, if he can take that into the game, it really does calm things down and settle things down for the rest of the unit.
“But what an opportunity. It would be fantastic to see, in a one-off Test match, they give it everything and perform their skills.”
