Bavuma: 'To be regarded as a top cricketing nation, we have to be in these situations'
Temba Bavuma has not shied away from stirring emotions in the build-up to South Africa's first appearance in an ICC World Test Championship Final, but now the game face is on.
The Proteas skipper is acutely aware of his side's reputation as the bridesmaids rather than the brides at ICC major events, with a runners-up finish at last year's Men's T20 World Cup the latest in a long line of near misses.
But South Africa have arrived at Lord's with a squad largely free of baggage from those historic occasions and Bavuma hopes that freedom will help them write their own story at Lord's.
'A lot of it (pre-match talk) has been emotive, understanding what the occasion is about, being at Lord's,' he said.
'From a motivation point of view, there is not much I can do. If players need to be motivated, that would be a problem.
'We just have to play what is in front of us, not get caught up too much in the story of what could be, and be ready for what is to come.
'For us to remain competitive and be regarded as a top cricketing nation, we have to be in these situations.
'Getting over the line is part of the whole story. For this bunch of players, for Shukri, it would be a massive feather in our caps. It would be special for a lot of people in a lot of different ways.
'We always speak about excellence, doing something special for the country and each other. Here is another opportunity for us to do that.'
Bavuma will bat at four this week, with Wiaan Mulder a spot above him at three – a role the all-rounder occupied for the first time against Pakistan at Newlands in January.
Lungi Ngidi has been preferred to Dane Paterson in South Africa's other selection dilemma, with Bavuma banking on the 29-year-old's extra pace to prove a point of difference.
'It was one of the tougher decisions, we saw what Patto did for us at the end of last season,' he said.
'It was more from a tactical point of view, there is probably a bit more pace from Lungi, he is taller as well. Lungi has a good record and he will complement the attack – we have Mulder, who gives us something a bit more similar to Patto with the ball.
'Mulder is quite young in that position (No.3) but having played with him, having seen the way he has grown in the last two years within the red-ball environment, it is about giving him confidence, backing him and allowing him to do what he does best.
'He has an opportunity in a pressure situation, and he can take comfort from the fact the guys are backing him to go out and play his game.'
The Lord's showpiece marks the first Test meeting between these two sides since South Africa's tour of Australia in 2022/23.
While it was a trip Bavuma would rather forget – the hosts ran out comfortable 2-0 winners – he earmarked it as a vital moment in his side's evolution.
'For a lot of us who were there, it was an eye-opener,' he said. 'We were always under pressure and you had to find ways to exert pressure back on them.
'It gave me an opportunity to look at my game and see where I can improve, and try and emulate the performances those batters were putting up at that point in time.
'In terms of the way we want to play our cricket, it influenced that. A guy like Shukri (Conrad) coming in, it was the right time, he encourages guys to be themselves and play their best cricket.
'It was a critical point in our journey as cricketers. Hopefully those memories are behind us and we can create some new ones now.'
South Africa XI to play Australia in the ICC World Test Championship Final: Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton, Wiaan Mulder, Temba Bavuma (c), Tristan Stubbs, David Bedingham, Kyle Verreynne (wk), Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi
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