Shukri Conrad has always done it his way
REPAYING THE FAITH Lungi Ngidi repaid Proteas coach Shukri Conrad's faith on Day 2 at Lord's. Picture: BackpagePix
I'll state my case, of which I'm certain
My friend, I'll say it clear
And so I face the final curtain
And now, the end is near
I traveled each and every highway
And more, much more than this
I did it my way
Regrets, I've had a few
But then again, too few to mention
I did what I had to do
And saw it through without exemption
I planned each charted course
Each careful step along the byway
And more, much more than this
I did it my way
Yes, there were times, I'm sure you knew
When I bit off more than I could chew
But through it all, when there was doubt
I ate it up and spit it out
I faced it all, and I stood tall
And did it my way
This may be the chorus of Frank Sinatra's legendary song, but it could easily be Shukri Conrad's mantra heading into the biggest day in South Africa's cricket history in more than a decade at Lord's on Friday.
Conrad has made bold calls ever since he took charge of the Proteas Test team.
From installing Temba Bavuma as captain to recalling Dane Paterson from the bowels of English County Cricket only to drop him after bagging consecutive five-fors, Conrad has 'done it my way'.
Paterson's omission from the World Test Championship Final here at Lord's caused particular consternation, especially with the 36-year-old seamer having prepared for The Ultimate Test by playing at Lord's for Middlesex the past two months.
Instead, Conrad placed his trust in Lungi Ngidi as the third seamer, which raised significant eyebrows due to Ngidi having pulled last on his Test whites in Port of Spain back in August 2024.
Ngidi's rustiness showed in the Australian first innings with the 29-year-old sending down a pile of dross from the Pavillion End as he conceded 45 runs across two four-over spells.
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Daily Maverick
3 hours ago
- Daily Maverick
Proteas inch closer to World Test Championship Mace after Markram and Bavuma batting masterclass
South Africa 138 and 213 for 2 (Aiden Markram 102*, Temba Bavuma 65*, Mitchell Starc 2-53) need 69 runs to beat Australia 212 and 207 (Starc 58, Alex Carey 43, Kagiso Rabada 4-59, Lungi Ngidi 3-38). Aiden Markram and Temba Bavuma have batted the Proteas to the verge of history at Lord's against Australia in the World Test Championship (WTC) final. They need 69 runs to clinch the Test mace with two days of action still available to play. Australia, dismissed for 207 in their second innings, set the Proteas a winning target of 282, which in the context of the low-scoring encounter, seemed almost impossible. But the dream is closer to reality after an aggressive response with the bat that has taken the Proteas to the brink of one of South African cricket's greatest achievements. The two most senior South African batters were undefeated at the crease at the close of play on day three, having led the team to 213 for two at stumps, putting on an unbroken 143-run third-wicket stand. Markram is the second South African in this match who will have his name etched into the Lord's Honour's Board at the conclusion of the WTC final, having struck an incredible century under pressure. Zero to hero The opener has gone from zero (dismissed for a duck in the first innings) to hero, carving out an appealing 102 off 159 deliveries, caressing 11 fours on his way to his eighth Test century. Proteas skipper Temba Bavuma, meanwhile, limped his way to 65 off 121 balls, with five boundary fours smacked. Bavuma, while fluent in his strokeplay, had a literal limp caused by a left hamstring strain, sustained while running through for a quick single. It meant the skipper and vice-captain couldn't take any quick singles. Despite that, the pair put on 143 runs for the third wicket in a display of batting of the highest magnitude under extreme pressure. Bavuma's innings was one of courage, skill and supreme commitment to his teammates and his country when they needed their leader to set the tone. What transpired with the bat on day three was a dream for Bavuma. But it was very nearly a nightmare when he edged a Mitchell Starc snorter to Steve Smith at a very close first slip, with a helmet on — as the edges had been falling short all Test match. But instead of pouching the chance, Smith snatched at the ball that flew at him and dropped the ball. Bavuma was on two at the time, and South Africa on 76 for two in the 20th over. The Proteas had also lost Wiaan Mulder in Starc's previous over so would have opened up an end. Bavuma survived and made the most of his good fortune, as the best players tend to do. For Smith, to add injury to insult, he suffered a compound dislocation of his right little finger while attempting the catch. He was taken to the hospital for x-rays. Morning frustration Earlier in the day, Australia's tail wagged to proportions of concern. Starc (58 off 136), in at nine, struck his 11th Test half century to guide Australia from 144 for eight overnight to 207 all out and extended Australia's lead to 282. Kagiso Rabada trapped Nathan Lyon LBW in the third over of the morning — to claim his ninth wicket of the match — but Starc and Josh Hazlewood (17 off 53) batted through the rest of the morning session, putting on 59 runs in their last wicket stand — Australia's second highest partnership in the innings. Hazlewood eventually became Markram's fifth Test scalp as the teams went into lunch with one innings in the Test match remaining, and knowing exactly what was needed to claim the WTC mace. The batting success of Australia's lower order, although frustrating for the Proteas, proved that conditions were finally okay for batting after two days of batters poking and prodding while attempting to get bat to ball. While 28 wickets fell across the first two days; only four fell on day three. Australia bowling coach Daniel Vettori suggested that the lack of cloud cover for the duration of day three's play, as well as the pitch becoming placid (as experts on the playing conditions at Lord's have suggested will happen) assisted the significant drop-off in wickets. In the same vein, Vettori credited Bavuma and Markam's vigil. 'It has been difficult scoring but South Africa made the most of those conditions. But also, it was an exceptional partnership,' Vettori said. 'They navigated the tricky times and then were able to put pressure back on us through their running [and] through their ability to dissect the field. It was a real clinic from those two.'
IOL News
6 hours ago
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Temba Bavuma's Proteas are in touching distance of realising the African dream at Lord's
Proteas captain Temba Bavuma and Aiden Markram have shared an unbroken 143-run partnership at Lord's. Picture: BackpagePix Image: Picture: BackpagePix 'Cause in my African dream There's a new tomorrow My African dream Is dream that we can follow These are the lyrics that will be ringing in the heads of the Proteas as they went to bed on Friday evening. For Temba Bavuma's team require just 69 more runs on Saturday morning to realise their dream of winning the World Test Championship final here at rousing Lord's. Bavuma is still at the crease too, fighting on bravely with a hamstring strain, undefeated on 65. His partner is none other than his able deputy Aiden Markram, who struck a career-defining 102 not out to edge the Proteas ever closer to their crowning moment. A century of the highest class from Aiden Markram! 💯🔥 Composed under pressure, fearless in execution, what a time for a knock for the ages. 🇿🇦💪 A phenomenal player rising to the occasion when it matters most. Take a bow, Markram, pure brilliance! 🔥👏 #WTCFinal #WozaNawe… — Proteas Men (@ProteasMenCSA) June 13, 2025 Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. 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Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ The pair have already shared an unbroken 143-run stand for the third wicket with the Proteas in pursuit of 282 runs for victory - if achieved it would also be the second highest ever target achieved in the fourth innings here at Lord's. The sceptics out there will no doubt remind everyone that the Proteas needed just 79 runs with the exact same numbers of wickets still intact in their very first Test after returning from isolation when they faced the West Indies in Barbados all the way back in 1992. But that was on a crumbling final day surface at the Kensington Oval. Lord's in 2025 bears no resemblance though, particularly after only four wickets fell for the entire third day after 28 had been snared on the opening two days. Markram - the only South African Men's captain to lead a team to an ICC World Cup title when he did so with the U19s in Dubai all those years ago - played with great authority as he stemmed the much-vaunted Australian attack. 'We certainly know that he's someone for the big occasion, of that there's no doubt,' said Proteas batting coach Ashwell Prince. The Proteas' would have had their hearts in their mouths though when Bavuma started hobbling after setting off a single early on in the partnership,, but the skipper was adamant that he wanted to continue in the middle with Markram despite being in obvious pain. Proteas coach Shukri Conrad. Picture: BackpagePix Image: BACKPAGEPIX 'At tea time, we had to make a big call whether he continues to bat (and how it will affect his stroke play, how that might affect Aiden's rhythm if twos are being turned into one, that they can't sort of run the twos or the threes. 'both of them were adamant that Temba was going to continue. He wanted to continue. Aiden was adamant that the partnership is the key. 'And obviously had Stubbs gone in, we would have still had Temba's wicket intact, but you start in a new partnership, they were feeling pretty good and they wanted to continue. 'Aiden was well aware that he'll have to curb his intensity just in terms of running between the wickets to allow Temba to ease his way through it.' With the Proteas on the verge one of the greatest moments in South African cricket history, but having seen it all implode before, how will the team cope with the expected nerves for the remainder of the Test? 'I think (Proteas head coach) Shukri (Conrad) must get a lot of credit for that because that's one of his strengths, making sure that everybody stays calm within the dressing room,' Prince said. Independent Media's Zaahier Adams will be at Lord's covering the ICC World Test Championship final. Picture: Independent Media Image: Independent Media
TimesLIVE
7 hours ago
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Aiden Markram's magic edges Proteas closer to WTC victory over Australia at Lord's
Aiden Markram, so talented, so infuriating (because that talent deserves more runs), but on Friday so magnificent. His unbeaten 102 has given the Proteas the right to dream. 69 runs, just 69 runs. It doesn't look like a lot, but Australia will make it look triple that amount on Saturday. But before looking ahead, it is worth looking back and Markram was just sublime on Friday. South African supporters have dreamt of just this kind of knock from the former under-19 captain, from whom so much was and continues to be expected. Here he carved out what is undoubtedly the best innings of his life. A fulfilment of all that natural ability, as he mixed elegance, with guts, to ensure South African can dream. Markram, started so rapidly as South Africa set off in pursuit of 282 set by Australia — at stumps they were 213/2. A century of the highest class from Aiden Markram! 💯🔥 Composed under pressure, fearless in execution, what a time for a knock for the ages. 🇿🇦💪 A phenomenal player rising to the occasion when it matters most. Take a bow, Markram, pure brilliance! 🔥👏 #WTCFinal #WozaNawe … — Proteas Men (@ProteasMenCSA) June 13, 2025 That target that was probably 30 runs more than the Proteas had hoped to chase when they turned up at the ground on Friday morning. Australia's captain Pat Cummins said on Thursday evening that another '30 to 40 runs' on top of the 144/8 his side had overnight, would allow him to set attacking fields when South Africa batted for the final time. That happened, but it also left gaps and with the South African batters showing much better intent than was the case on Wednesday evening, alongside Australia not bowling at the same high standard they did in that period, the runs came quickly. Also the sun was out, and as irritating as the morning session was with Australia adding 73 runs and Starc reaching an unbeaten 58, it showed that the pitch was not as demonic as the first two days. Ryan Rickleton will be miffed that he got out the way he did. His provincial teammate, Wiaan Mulder, will feel the same, especially as he got a start, scoring 27, and sharing a second-wicket partnership of 61 with Markram. The opener, started with a gorgeous cover drive off Starc, building momentum that he was primarily responsible for maintaining through the innings. There were a few characteristically elegant back foot drives too through the covers, but arguably two of the best shots were deft late cuts — one off Starc and another off Beau Webster, the latter going finer to the third man boundary. The celebration of his hundred wasn't as animated as in the past — the was no leap for instance — just a punch of his right fist and a look up to the sky. With the captain Temba Bavuma not out on 65, ignoring the searing pain of a strained left hamstring to help forge a partnership that at stumps was worth 143 runs. Bavuma limped, hobbled and occasionally broke into something resembling a sprint when trying to complete a two after a delicate sweep off Travis Head. It looked bloody painful. It will need more treatment overnight, but you can bet your last rand, he'll be at the crease on Saturday morning. The South African captain's innings was not without luck, the biggest moment arriving early in his innings, when he'd scored just two and was dropped by Steve Smith at first slip off Starc. The former Australia captain was standing much closer to the stumps than is normal — wearing a helmet for protection — and the ball blasted through his fingers. He left the field in agony and was later diagnosed with a compound dislocation of his right little finger. Smith was taken to hospital for X-rays and further treatment. A number of edges have fallen short of slips in the past two days, leading to both sides moving their respective cordons closer to the stumps. Like Smith, Markram also wore a helmet on Thursday night and again on Friday morning as he stood close against the quick bowlers. It was the main reason Marco Jansen, standing at gully, dropped Starc when he had 14, three balls before the close of play on the second evening. By the close of the third evening, South Africa were on top, they can dream.
