Temba Bavuma on the brink of his own Siya Kolisi moment

Telegraph

2 days ago

For years, Temba Bavuma's credentials to play Test cricket were attacked. He was accused of owing his place to the colour of his skin. Now, he stands on the cusp of becoming one of the most significant cricketers in South African history.
In the closing stages of day three, chants of 'Oh, Temba Bavuma' filled Lord's. On one level, these were a celebration of what South Africa's captain has already achieved this Test, following up a first-innings 36 – when only one team-mate passed 16 – with a half century, in defiance of a hamstring injury. But, really, the chants were those of delirious anticipation about what lies ahead.
On day four at Lord's, South Africa will need 68 more runs, with eight wickets remaining, to topple Australia and win the 2025 World Test Championship. For Bavuma, this would be a moment of ultimate vindication.
Should he lift the Test Championship, it will be Bavuma's very own Siya Kolisi moment: a black captain lifting a world title for the Rainbow Nation. But while Kolisi's triumphs have come with a team already acclaimed as one of the world's elite, Bavuma's would come with a side who have repeatedly been disparaged. To many, the contrast in height between the two captains at the toss – Pat Cummins standing at 6ft 3in, towering a full foot above Bavuma – embodied the contrast between their sides.
If South Africa's schedule was gentler than some rivals in the 2023-25 Test Championship cycle, they still earned qualification for the final by winning seven consecutive Tests. Defeating Australia, the gold standard for the bulk of Test history, would bring catharsis for the Proteas, after their traumatic history in knockout matches.
Victory would be all the sweeter after South Africa faced a first-innings deficit of 74 runs and then a target of 282 to win. Thanks to Bavuma's enterprise and a sparkling century from Aiden Markram, marked by pristine driving, that total is now in sight.
MAGNIFICENT MARKRAM! 🌟
100 up in the WTC final day 3 🏏 pic.twitter.com/DT1Jd75HjX
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) June 13, 2025
By the time the pair walked off at the close of day three, they had added an unbroken 143 runs at 3.7 runs an over. On a pitch playing far truer than on the opening two days, Australia were reduced to deploying Beau Webster's medium pace with the wicketkeeper standing up to the stumps.
From township to country's first black centurion
Perhaps it is worth recalling Bavuma's journey to this point. Bavuma grew up in Langa, a township just outside Cape Town, playing street cricket incessantly. His talent then led to him earning a scholarship at one of South Africa's elite schools, the traditional pathway for players into the professional game. 'There were always doubts,' Bavuma recalled recently. 'Am I good enough to be here? Do I deserve this opportunity? I always felt the need to prove myself.'
This need remained when Bavuma broke into South African professional cricket, and then the international team. Since readmission, black Africans have made a sterling contribution to South Africa's Test bowling. But black Africans have struggled to establish themselves as top-order batsmen in first-class, never mind the international game. Socio-economic advantages – kit, pitches and sheer practice – are more significant for developing batsmen than bowlers.
And so when Bavuma made his Test debut, in 2014, he was tasked with making history. Against England at Cape Town in 2016, 127 years after South Africa's first Test, Bavuma became the first black African to score a century for the country.
The moment was heralded as a catalyst for change. Yet it would be another seven years until South Africa's second century by a black African batsman, once again by Bavuma. While black Africans have contributed 39 five-wicket hauls for South Africa since readmission, they have only scored five Test centuries, four from Bavuma's own bat.
None has been as significant for his side as Bavuma's undefeated 65 in the World Test Championship final. The innings was forged from skittish beginnings. On two, Bavuma almost played on against Nathan Lyon. Before making another run, Bavuma edged Mitchell Starc firmly to Steve Smith. South Africa should have been 76 for three. Instead, their third-wicket pair remained, and Smith dislocated his little finger, which leaves him a major doubt for Australia's looming tour of the West Indies.
From bad to worse for Steve Smith! 🫣
He is forced off with a dislocated finger after dropping a catch 🤕 pic.twitter.com/TbA9YysLCJ
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) June 13, 2025
Two overs later, Bavuma hurtled through to complete a single for Markram. In the process, he injured his left hamstring – needing treatment on the field, and then further medical assistance at tea.
Normally renowned as one of his side's fastest runners, now Bavuma was reduced to grimacing when running between the wickets. Yet he defied his pain to continue to run twos, as Australia spread the field to cut off the supply of boundaries. Bavuma's early jitters were replaced by clinical control: picking the gaps square of the wicket against seam, and slog-sweeping Nathan Lyon and part-timer Travis Head alike.
While Markram's century was sumptuous, Bavuma's contribution showed his own understated qualities as a Test batsman. In 25 Tests since his recall in 2020, Bavuma now averages 49.9.
Most importantly, South Africa have won eight, and lost none, of Bavuma's nine completed Tests as captain. Should he secure a ninth Test victory as captain, it would complete Bavuma's remarkable ascent: from the Langa township to holding the World Test Championship mace aloft at Lord's.