The Proteas faced four Tests of the home summer against Sri Lanka and Pakistan with a known goal: to win three of the four.
This was because they needed three wins to qualify for one of the first two places in the World Test Championship (WTC). Finishing in third wouldn’t count. Only two teams can contest the final, to be hosted by Lord’s in early June.
They duly honoured their mandate on the cusp of the new year by beating Pakistan by two wickets in the first Test at Centurion. It was nip and tuck all the way, with South Africa sneaking across the line in a thriller thanks to Kagiso Rabada’s 31 not out with the bat.
Rabada, because he bats left-handed, has received a new nickname. His occasional teammate, Chris Morris, now a commentator, has publicly christened him “Brian Charles”, in honour of Brian Charles Lara and his flourishing blade.
It’s a cheeky moniker, but Rabada is finally only as good with the ball as Brian Charles was as good with the bat. Everything else is a bonus.
A couple of days later, at Newlands, another South African bat did the talking. It belonged to Ryan Rickelton, who once played alongside Rabada at St Stithians College in Joburg.
Rickelton might not have played at Newlands. The wicket at Centurion was sporty, and he made only eight and one. But on the eve of the Newlands Test Tony de Zorzi strained his thigh. Suddenly, Rickelton was in the mix; he opened the innings and rattled off 259, batting well into the second day for the seventh-highest Test score recorded by a South African batsman.
“I said to Shuks [coach Shukri Conrad] that I was so desperate I’d bat anywhere,” admitted Rickelton after his mammoth innings, a combination of grace and watchfulness in extreme Cape heat.
Rickelton’s knock paved the way for South Africa’s mammoth 615. They bowled Pakistan out twice and, though they struggled at times on an unresponsive pitch, they eventually completed the job, winning the Test by 10 wickets.
So came to an end a fascinating summer. South Africa duly qualified on top of the WTC table after the win and will now play Australia in the Lord’s final.
The summer was fascinating because this Proteas team are fascinating. In truth, they are a good but far from perfect side. If this seems grudging, how about asking yourself the question of who among them would make the best Test side in the world? Probably only one: “Brian Charles” Rabada.
Yet they make up for their lack of stellar talent with pluck, a strong bowling unit and indefatigability. The fact that they have the example of the World Cup-winning Springboks close to hand counts for something too.
Their pluck has something to do with their skipper, Temba Bavuma. Bavuma sulked when he was given out (caught off the trouser leg, not the bat) at Centurion and admitted that he only came onto the balcony when the win was assured. This aside, Bavuma has been a model of consistency with the bat this summer. Taking the side to Lord’s will be deserved reward for a Test career that has been scrutinised by his detractors to the nth degree.
Pluck comes in different forms. Take Kyle Verreynne, the Western Province wicketkeeper. After Rickelton had set out his stall at Newlands, Verreynne came out guns blazing. He scored five sixes and nine fours in a quick-fire 100 as Pakistan wilted.
He will be needed at Lord’s, though, as wicketkeeper; he will be challenged by the bounce and late movement of the ball.
For all the good cheer, a word or two of caution. Australia, the Proteas’ opponents in June’s final, are an experienced, largely settled and extremely crafty side. They also have cricketers — think Travis Head — who are casually destructive. Head can take a Test match away from you in the time it takes to buy yourself a beer and prego roll.
They also (and this will weigh heavily on Bavuma) beat South Africa badly when the two sides met in a three-Test series Down Under this time two years ago.
Contrast this, however, with South Africa’s heady “we can win from anywhere” resolve. Contrast it with the fact that this is a final, and, as we all know, anything can happen in a final. Contrast it with the fact that this will be a kind of homecoming for the Proteas.
Their second Test after readmission was played at Lord’s. Kepler Wessels captained the side. It was an all-white side, however, reflective of only a small fraction of South Africa’s population. Bavuma takes the Proteas to Lord’s already a hero. He also takes them as a captain of a far more representative team. Imagine how much of a hero he would be if he returned with the WTC trophy.
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