Bullish Conrad backs South Africa to stun Australia

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South Africa's coach Shukri Conrad speaks during a press conference at Lord's cricket ground in London, on June 9, 2025, ahead of the ICC World Test Championship cricket final match between Australia and South Africa. (Photo by HENRY NICHOLLS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE (Photo by HENRY NICHOLLS/AFP via Getty Images)
By Charlie Bennett at Lord's
South Africa might be the underdogs in the ICC World Test Championship Final 2025 but head coach Shukri Conrad is quietly confident of an upset.
The Proteas face defending champions and the world number ones Australia at Lord's this week, chasing a first ICC men's global trophy since 1998.
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The size of the task ahead of them is significant. Australia have retained the Ashes and beaten India in a thrilling five-match series on the road to Lord's, a ground at which they have traditionally excelled.
Batters Steve Smith, Travis Head and Usman Khawaja are all ranked inside the world's top 10, while bowlers Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon are numbers three, four and five respectively.
However, Conrad believes his team have what it takes to stop the Australian juggernaut and spring a surprise.
'We are here, that is all that matters,' Conrad said.
'It doesn't get bigger than playing Australia, and we are quietly confident going into this game that we can pull one over on them.
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'If there are any weaknesses amongst them, we will be able to exploit it.'
His confidence is well-founded. South Africa have won seven Tests in a row to reach this point and have a bowling attack that is the envy of the world.
Last year, Kagiso Rabada became the fastest quick bowler to take 300 Test wickets in terms of deliveries bowled – his 11,817 balls coming in 785 fewer than Pakistan great Waqar Younis.
He leads an attack that also features the lively Marco Jansen, speedy Wiaan Mulder and crafty spinner Keshav Maharaj.
It is an attack more than capable of taking 20 wickets, but you don't win seven Test matches in a row without some runs being scored – and that is where South Africa face questions.
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Of the top seven that played their last Test against Pakistan, only Ryan Rickelton has a Test average above 40. Yet Conrad has full confidence they can stand up and deliver.
'The inexperience of the batters is apparent in terms of Tests played, and rankings,' he said.
'It is normal to chat about bowlers when you have KG Rabada, who is one of the best in the world, and Keshav Maharaj.
'But there is a confidence in the batters, while they might not have the superstar names among them, they are very confident.
'Our strength is the collective, we will go out and fight for every run and every wicket.
'You look at a guy like Tristan Stubbs, he doesn't bowl but look at the way he celebrates when we take a wicket. As we go on, we want more names on honours boards around the world.'
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Whenever South Africa play in an ICC final, it is not long for their record in finals to crop up. They have not won an ICC event since the first Champions Trophy in 1998, and lost last summer's ICC Men's T20 World Cup Final.
'Our ICC finals record doesn't weigh heavy on us, it is unfair to burden our players with that,' Conrad added.
'We don't want to wish this experience away, whatever tags come along, we don't wear that.
'It is just another occasion to set the record straight. You can only win it if you play finals, and the more you play, the better your chances.
'We always take a 'let's embrace' it approach. We will be enjoying the majority of the support, and it is a huge day.
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'We can't wish it away, these are some of the conversations we had last night. Rathet than wish it away, we talked through it. There will be nerves but it is a great occasion, I'd rather be part of it than not.'
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