LONDON: South Africa is a country reared on hardship and struggle. It is part of the DNA of our nation.
The Proteas have suffered through their fair share. It’s been 27 years since the national men’s tasted success in a major ICC final.
There have been fleeting moments of joy when Graeme Smith lifted the ICC’s golden Test mace here at Lord’s back in 2012, but that was via a different format.
This is a winner takes all showdown against the defending champions Australia at the most revered cricket stadia of all.
Team news is in!#WTC25 pic.twitter.com/rXBXSkKA52
— Lord’s Cricket Ground (@HomeOfCricket) June 10, 2025
The fact that Australia have been the Proteas’ chief tormentors over the years further fuels the fire, especially with the scars still fresh after their last meeting in 2022-23 when Pat Cummins’ side struck down an out-of-sorts South African side 2-0.
“That wasn’t a good time,” Bavuma said on the eve of the World Test Championship final. “I think for a lot of us who were there it was a little bit of an eye-opener, playing against Australia, seeing how their batters went about their business, facing their bowlers and how you were always under pressure and had to find ways to exert pressure back on them.”
South Africans don’t stay down on the canvas for too long though. There is a natural inclination to fight back when pushed up against the wall. No DNA, just RSA.
For it was that series Down Under that proved to be the watershed moment South African cricket needed to get their house in order.
Wiaan Mulder reflects on the challenge of batting at No. 3 and the confidence he feels in taking on the responsibility in the #WTC Final 🏏🔥. #WTCFinal #WozaNawe #ProteasWTCFinal pic.twitter.com/QpSgI4zleK
— Proteas Men (@ProteasMenCSA) June 10, 2025
In came head coach Shukri Conrad, who immediately struck a rapport with Bavuma that helped the newly-installed captain to finally start to fulfil his potential, which is arguably the biggest factor in the Proteas setting up their date with destiny here at Lord’s.
“For me, that gave me an opportunity to kind of have a look at my game to see where I can improve, and hopefully try to emulate the performances those batters were putting up,” Bavuma said.
“I think probably also in terms of the way that we wanted to play our cricket as a whole, it influenced that, encouraging guys to be themselves, to play their best cricket.
“I think a guy like Shukri coming in was kind of at the right time if I could say that.
“And I think also in terms of the way we wanted to play our cricket as a whole, it influenced that, encouraging guys to be themselves, to play their best cricket.”
“Hopefully those memories are behind us and we can create new ones now. But I think it was a critical point in our journey as cricketers.”
Part of the journey under the co-leadership of Conrad and Bavuma has been the boldness of selection.
Without a convenor of selectors, Conrad has enjoyed carte blanche in picking the players that he wants. The men he believes will run through walls for him and come out on the other side not even seeking a plaster.
Throughout the last six months when the Proteas won seven straight Tests to earn their place at this elite table, Conrad’s judgement has been spot on even when it appeared from outside the dressing room that it may have been far-fetched.
It is for this reason that Bavuma fully supports the tactics of allrounder Wiaan Mulder walking to the crease at No 3 in today’s showpiece.
“I think Mulder is quite young obviously in that position, but I think having played with Mulder, having seen him, the way he’s kind of grown in the last two years within the red-ball family,” Bavuma explained.
“It’s about giving him a lot more confidence, keep backing him, and just allowing him to do what he does best.
“So, I mean, I think, yes, he has an opportunity in a pressure situation, but I think he can take comfort from the fact that the guys are backing him. We just want him to go out and play his game.”
Bavuma admitted though that omitting Dane Paterson was “one of the tougher decisions”, especially as the 36-year-old had grabbed two five-fors in consecutive Tests last season.
“We’ve seen what Patto did for us towards the end of last season,” he said. “But I think it was more from a tactical point of view, probably a little bit more pace from Lungi (Ngidi). I guess he’s taller as well.”
The dress-rehearsals have all been completed and the curtain is ready to be drawn for the showstopper. Bavuma is certainly hoping his team can deliver a performance that will earn a standing ovation once this Test has run its course.
“We’ll always try to focus on what we need to do on the field. We always speak about excellence, we always speak about doing something special for the country and also for each other. So here’s another opportunity for us to do that.
“It will be a special moment, not just for myself, for the team, but also the people back home.”
TEAMS FOR WORLD TEST CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL AT LORD’S
PROTEAS: Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickleton, Wiaan Mulder, Temba Bavuma (capt), Tristan Stubbs, David Bedingham, Kyle Verreynne, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi.
AUSTRALIA: Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Cameron Green, Steven Smith, Travis Head, Beau Webster, Alex Carey (wk), Pat Cummins (capt), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood.
Start: 11:30AM (SA time), TV: SuperSport
