With the Proteas securing safe passage to the World Test Championship (WTC) final at Lord’s in London next year, it means a side not burdened by superstars have surpassed expectations to achieve a significant milestone.
The only current player that could legitimately lay claim to the title of legend of SA cricket would be Kagiso Rabada.
His 321 wickets in just 69 matches has seen the 29-year-old fast bowler rise to fifth on the all-time list wicket-takers for South Africa. Only Allan Donald (330), Makhaya Ntini (390), Shaun Pollock (421) and Dale Steyn (439) have taken more wickets for South Africa.
The rest of a rapidly rising Proteas team hardly compare in terms of milestones achieved to that of Rabada.
But that’s the point here, a team led by Temba Bavuma have punched above their weight to book their ticket to their second-ever men’s ICC tournament final. The star-laden Proteas teams of years gone by have been ranked best in the world, but the fact that this lesser-fancied team has achieved the same height speaks volumes.
Of course the first was earlier in 2024, when they reached the T20 World Cup final which they lost to India.
Since readmission, South Africa have traditionally had a strong team which can compete with the best in the world. Over the last two or so decades, South African teams have been littered with some legendary players like Jacques Kallis, Hashim Amla, AB de Villiers, Graeme Smith, Mark Boucher, Morne Morkel, Pollock and Steyn.
This current team with players like Tristan Stubbs, David Bedingham, Tony de Zorzi, Kyle Verreynne and Marco Jansen are still finding their way in the format. Yet somehow they have combined to produce winning results with series wins over the West Indies, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and the crucial win in the first Test against Pakistan in Centurion on Sunday.
The more experienced players like Aiden Markram and Bavuma have helped this side show the kind of character needed to win vital games, and their reward lies in wait in England in just over six months time.
Whether this team will be able to go all the way and claim the ultimate prize is not certain, but don’t bet against them.
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