South Africa successfully completed their journey to the 2023-25 World Test Championship final following their 2-0 series whitewash of Pakistan at home over the past two weeks.
The Proteas are set to face arch-rivals Australia from June 11-15 at Lord’s in London.
Cricket writer Ongama Gcwabe takes a deep dive into the Proteas Test players’ returns this season...
Temba Bavuma, Rating: 9
Matches: 7, Innings: 11, Runs: 609, Top Score: 113, Average: 60.9, 100s: 2, 50s: 4
Looking at everything that Bavuma had gone through this cycle, including two series-ending injuries, he just was not supposed to sit at the top of these ratings.
However, through sheer determination and will to lead the country, the 34-year-old has defied all the odds and went on to become the first Proteas captain to lead South Africa to the WTC final. This cycle, Bavuma has brought up two centuries, one in Durban and another in Cape Town, as he moved up to the top 10 in the ICC Test batting rankings.
Aiden Markram, Rating: 5
M: 10, Inn: 18, Runs: 572, TS: 106, Ave: 33.64, 100s: 1, 50s: 3
Markram started the cycle brilliantly, scoring a century at Newlands on a pitch that was very difficult to bat on and against a very strong India pace attack. From there on in, the opening batter has not kicked on.
However, the 30-year-old did chip in with valuable half-centuries at the top of the order as he formed a really good pairing with Tony de Zorzi at the top of the order.
Tony de Zorzi, Rating: 5
M: 9, Inn: 16, Runs: 486, TS: 177, Ave: 30.37, 100s: 1, 50s: 1
This cycle, De Zorzi has proved to be just the Test opener that the Proteas having been searching for over the last few years.
His 177 on the spin-friendly wickets in Bangladesh revealed the appetite that he has for runs and spending time in the middle when the team need him.
Though he did not have a fruitful home summer during the Sri Lanka and Pakistan tours, De Zorzi certainly solidified his place in the Proteas Test side.
Tristan Stubbs, Rating: 7
M: 9, Inn: 16, Runs: 500, TS: 122, Ave: 33.33, 100s: 2, 50s: 1
To finish the top-order, Stubbs had to deliver some big performances with the bat in this cycle, and boy did he deliver both home and away.
The 24-year-old scored a century on the sub-continent in Bangladesh and here at home as he started to show his true potential in the longest format of the game.
David Bedingham, Rating: 5
M: 12, Inn: 21, Runs: 645, TS: 110, Ave: 33.94, 100s: 1, 50s: 3
When the top Proteas players couldn’t tour New Zealand last year, Bedingham was the only one in the main squad who was able to travel.
His century in New Zealand, in swinging and seaming conditions, gave the world a glimpse of his potential.
From that tour onwards, the right-handed batter hasn’t had the best of returns. However, going into the final at Lord’s, where he bats every season for Durham, he will be key for the Proteas.
Kyle Verreynne, Rating: 8
M: 10, Inn: 14, Runs: 488, TS: 114, Ave: 37.53, 100s: 3, 50s: 1
Average aside, Verreynne and Bavuma have been the most consistent batters in the Proteas batting unit. Three centuries in one cycle shows the pedigree of the wicket-keeper. The 27-year-old had a fantastic cycle with the bat and behind the stumps as well.
Ryan Rickelton, Rating: 8
M: 6, Inn: 9, Runs:451, TS: 259, Ave: 56.37, 100s: 2
In and out of the playing XI, Rickelton has made full use of the very limited opportunities that he has received. His two centuries during this cycle, including the 259 he scored at Newlands this week, have given South Africa options for the top-order going to Lord’s.
Wiaan Mulder, Rating: 7
Batting: M: 6, Inn: 8, Runs: 263, TS: 105*, Ave: 52.60, 100s: 1, 50s: 1
Bowling: M: 6, Wickets: 11, Ave: 24, Best Bowling: 4/32
Mulder has finally shaped up to be the batting all-rounder that South Africa always knew he had the capability to become. With ball in hand, the 26-year-old has shown real skill and wicket-taking ability, while his century in Bangladesh reminded the world of his talent with the bat.
Marco Jansen, Rating: 8
Batting: M: 6, Inn: 9, Runs: 200, TS: 84, Ave: 28.57, 50s: 2
Bowling: M: 6, W: 29, Ave: 20.82, Five Wickets: 2, BB: 7/13
Having been rested for 12 weeks, missing two important away series, Jansen has come back into the side and excelled especially in his first Test back in Durban, where he took seven wickets in one innings.
The all-rounder backed up his performance during the Sri Lanka series with a Player-of-the-Series performance in the recently concluded Pakistan Tests as he continued to show good form in whites.
Keshav Maharaj, Rating: 8
M: 8, W: 40, Ave: 20.57, FW: 2, BB: 5/59
South Africa’s most prolific spinner had yet another fantastic cycle as the first-choice spinner and strike bowler. Two five-wicket hauls and a tally of 40 wickets, all at an average of 20, make Maharaj one of the world’s best spinners at the moment.
Kagiso Rabada, Rating: 8
M: 10, W: 47, Ave: 19.97, FW: 3, BB: 6/46
Rabada has yet again carried the Proteas bowling attack on his shoulders with another excellent WTC campaign with the ball.
His Player of the Series performances in Bangladesh stood out as South Africa went on to win 2-0. His performances here at home this summer have been key to the side qualifying for the final.
Dane Paterson, Rating: 7
M: 5, W: 21, Ave: 23.33, FW: 2, BB: 5/61
Paterson is one of the many players that have come into the side and performed straight away. His Player-of-the-Match performance in the second Test against Sri Lanka in Gqeberha was his highlight of the season.
The fact that the 35-year-old backed up that performance with another five-for in the very next Test at Centurion proved that the seamer has a lot to offer the Test side.
Kwena Maphaka, Rating: 5
M: 1, W: 3, Ave: 30, BB: 2/43
Maphaka’s maiden Test at Newlands made him the youngest-ever South African Test player as the 18-year-old broke Paul Adams’ long-standing record. The left-arm fast bowler took a tally of three wickets in Cape Town, bowling thunderbolts as he played a key role in helping set up a 10-wicket victory over Pakistan.