Proteas Coach Shukri Conrad and Captain Temba Bavuma. Picture Credits: X
By Moyahabo Mabeba
Ecstatic Proteas coach Shukri Conrad has expressed jubilation over the meteoric rise of captain Temba Bavuma and the impact he is making in the team.
The talismanic skipper of the South African senior cricket side continued his unbeaten run in the recent Test triumph over India.
Having just returned to the side after missing the Pakistan Test series due to a calf strain, Bavuma provided the catalyst for South Africa, shocking the hosts on a tricky Eden Gardens wicket.
Conrad reckons that the 35-year-old, has been one of the greatest players in the world in recent years.
“I said it two days before the Test match, having our best player back is very reassuring for us, it brings a calmness and I also might have mentioned that in the last 18-24 months, he’s been one of the best players in the world.
“And he showed that again, with an innings that he was clear on how he wanted to do it, went against the grain of everybody else in the match – and ja, Temba’s innings was the difference between the two sides,” said Conrad.
With premier seam bowler Kagiso Rabada having been ruled out through a rib injury, Conrad was impressed that his bowlers could step up and believes Corbin Bosch’s selection was justified.
“We were sweating on KG from early in the week, and I don’t think we were ever desperate, but you want to give him the best chance of being ready,” Conrad explained.
“So we gave him up until the morning and when KG tells you, ‘I’m not ready,’ then you better believe him, and – again – that makes it so much sweeter that someone who we know can make a huge impact on the game is ruled out, and we [still win].
“And Boschy might not have had the impact that KG might have had with the ball, but his partnership with Temba, again, Boschy doing Boschy things. So, ja, it makes it sweeter.”.
