Latest news with #Bavuma
IOL News
21 hours ago
- Sport
- IOL News
Bavuma's long road to Lord's: Proteas skipper eyes Test mace glory
Temba Bavuma will lead the Proteas in the World Test Championship final, starting next week, against Australia, hoping to capture the Test mace for the country. Photo: Backpagepix Image: Backpagpix It is very hard to compare the journey that Temba Bavuma has had to undertake to get to where he is now — leading the Proteas Test team ahead of next week's World Test Championship (WTC) final against Australia at Lord's. The 35-year-old has endured all kinds of challenges in his career, and many of them have had little to do with his on-field performances. He has faced abuse on social media when results have not gone his way, and received scant credit when he has single-handedly carried the team. Considering his journey — and given that Bavuma has now proven himself to many of his critics — there is growing hope that the Test mace will be the first of many trophies he brings home during his tenure as captain. It seems the stars may finally be aligning for a man who has had to endure more hardship than celebration, to bring long-awaited glory to South African cricket — an environment that so desperately needs positive news. 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. 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. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad Loading Speaking to the media before boarding a flight to the UK last week, Bavuma admitted that winning the Test mace would bring meaning to everything he has gone through. 'It's a key moment within my career as a leader. I think it will give credence to everything that I've gone through. There's always that question at the back of your mind — 'Is everything that you're doing, everything that you're going through, worth it?'' said Bavuma. 'But then, when you're in moments like these, where you have the opportunity to do something special — not just for yourself but for the nation — it gives you a little bit of motivation and comfort that everything that you're going through is worth it.' Similarly, for many senior players in the Test team — such as Kagiso Rabada, Aiden Markram and Keshav Maharaj — who have endured a tough rebuilding phase marked by the loss of sponsors and South Africa's fall from grace as a top Test side, winning the mace would be a worthy reward for their resilience. 'I think it's a key moment for a lot of us within the team. A lot of the guys put a lot of significance behind Test cricket. When we speak about a legacy that we want to leave behind, Test cricket is right there at the top,' said Bavuma. 'We're embracing everything that's to come. We'd love there to be that kind of fairytale story in the result. But in terms of just savouring it all, enjoying the moment, and looking to play your best cricket — that really doesn't change. 'But yes, for me, for the team, and for the coach as well, I think winning the Test mace is right up there among the biggest moments of our careers.' Bavuma was injured after the ICC Champions Trophy and missed the tail end of the Four-Day Series at home. As a result, some may be concerned about his form or lack of game time ahead of the WTC final. However, those who follow the game closely will recall that Bavuma returned from a nearly three-month layoff last year — having missed the Bangladesh tour — only to score two centuries and three fifties in seven innings during the home summer. The 35-year-old also showed promising form in Arundel on Wednesday, cruising to an unbeaten 58 during the warm-up match against Zimbabwe. 'I feel like I'm moving nicely. The eyes haven't gone as of yet — which becomes a problem when you're 35,' Bavuma joked. 'But yes, I still feel good mentally. Mentally, I feel fresh — that's the biggest thing. Physically, I keep managing my elbow. The hamstrings are good. So, I'm good to go,' he concluded.
The Herald
a day ago
- Sport
- The Herald
Proteas batters get in the necessary reps ahead of WTC final
Rickelton, who's been prolific across all three formats since November, faced 93 deliveries, Bavuma 85 and Stubbs 120 during their respective stints at the crease. 'This is preparation, we asked Zimbabwe for all 15 [of the South African squad] to participate in the game and with whatever time we have available, because there is some weather around, all the players get as much time out of it as possible,' said Prince. The Proteas bowlers will hope to add to the 11 overs they managed to bowl at Zimbabwe late on Wednesday, should the weather allow in the remaining two days in Arundel. Australia is not following a similar build-up. Unlike South Africa , the Australians allowed fast bowler Josh Hazlewood to finish the IPL with his side the Royals Challengers Bangalore. He bowled the final over that sealed their victory in Ahmadabad on Tuesday and travelled to England the next day to join the remainder of the Australian squad, who have begun preparation with another training camp before Lord's. Though Australia will start as favourites at Lord's on June 11, their captain Pat Cummins was wary of undermining the Proteas, telling the Grade Cricketer podcast in Australia that they had some match winners in their side, along with some unknowns for his side to consider.
IOL News
2 days ago
- General
- IOL News
Proteas impress with the bat in warm-up ahead of WTC final
Proteas skipper Temba Bavuma scored a solid 58 against Zimbabwe on Wednesday, Photo: Backpagepix Image: Backpagepix It is safe to say that South Africa ticked their boxes on Day Two at the Arundel Castle Cricket Ground on Wednesday, with captain Temba Bavuma, Ryan Rickelton and Tristan Stubbs showing promising signs ahead of next week's World Test Championship final against Australia at Lord's. Having lost the opening day of the warm-up match against Zimbabwe to rain on Tuesday, South Africa won the toss on Wednesday and sent Aiden Markram and Ryan Rickelton in to open the batting. Batting first was always in the plans of coach Shukri Conrad, who emphasised after the rained-out opening day that the priority was to give the batters time in the middle while allowing the bowlers to rest. A clash of two giants awaits at Lord's in a week 🇿🇦🇦🇺 Who will get their hands on the coveted trophy 🏆#WTC25 | #SSCricket — SuperSport 🏆 (@SuperSportTV) June 4, 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. 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. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad Loading Markram lasted only 5.3 overs, facing 15 deliveries before he was undone by Alex Falao (1/76). Wiaan Mulder (26) was next in and shared a 65-run partnership, with Rickelton before falling to Tanaka Chivanga (1/54). Captain Bavuma then came in at No 4, and the runs started to flow. The 35-year-old joined Rickelton in the middle, and the pair continued their excellent home summer form, in which both scored two centuries. Rickelton reached a composed half-century before retiring not out on 62, while Bavuma matched the milestone and also retired on 58. Between them, they struck 22 fours. Tristan Stubbs, who also enjoyed a prolific domestic season with two centuries, played a more measured knock. His 58 came off 120 balls and included only four fours and a six. David Bedingham (23* retired), Tony de Zorzi (28* retired) and Kyle Verreynne (9*) all spent time in the middle as South Africa declared their first innings on 312/3. With just under an hour left in the day, Bavuma gave the Duke ball to his frontline bowlers, Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen. The new-ball pair took time to find rhythm, but Rabada eventually struck, removing Brian Bennett — a wicket that likely brought relief to the fast bowler, who remains under scrutiny following a recent drug ban. Though only a warm-up, attention was on Rabada's ability to hit his stride early, as he has done throughout his Test career. He bowled four overs, finishing with 1/18, while Jansen ended on 0/13. Lungi Ngidi (0/4) and Keshav Maharaj (0/4) followed, conceding just eight runs between them. At stumps, South Africa led Zimbabwe by 279 runs.
The Citizen
4 days ago
- Sport
- The Citizen
Proteas prepare for Test final with lone warm-up match against Zimbabwe
The SA team will meet Zimbabwe in a four-day game in Arundel starting on Tuesday. They would have liked more game time in the longer format in the build-up to the World Test Championship final, but the Proteas are confident a single warm-up match against Zimbabwe will be sufficient preparation, along with their training sessions as a squad. The SA team will face minnows Zimbabwe in a four-day game in Arundel starting on Tuesday, before moving on to London where they meet Australia in the Test final starting on 11 June at Lord's. Having last played a Test in January, against Pakistan on home soil, Proteas captain Temba Bavuma admitted more time on the field in the red-ball format would have helped, but he said they needed to work with what they had. 'I wouldn't say it's enough, but it's a game of cricket. It's an opportunity for us to be on the field and dust off the cobwebs,' Bavuma said. 'A lot of us haven't been playing red-ball cricket, so it's a chance for the bowlers to get time on their legs and for the batters to get accustomed to their processes and spend some time out in the middle. 'I'm not a big fan of practice games, to be honest, but you take what you take from the opportunity.' 'It will have to be good enough' Head coach Shukri Conrad felt they would be ready to take on Australia, even with a limited build-up, with most players having focused on limited overs cricket this year. After arriving in England at the weekend, the Proteas were at least able to spend some time together as a squad as they geared up for the crunch clash against their perennial rivals. 'This game (against Zimbabwe), coupled with whatever work we can put in outside of that, is going to have to be good enough,' Conrad said. 'But I don't think we need to be doing anything out of the ordinary in order to beat Australia. We probably go in as underdogs, and rightly so, not because of ability but maybe just in experience. 'I'm very confident that, when we play to our best, that we've got every chance of beating them.'
IOL News
7 days ago
- Sport
- IOL News
EXCLUSIVE: Temba Bavuma will lead Proteas in his own calm way in Lord's Test final, says Graeme Smith
Lord's is just an amazing place to play cricket, says former Proteas captain Graeme Smith. Picture: Alet Pretorius/Sportzpics Image: Alet Pretorius/Sportzpics Former captain Graeme Smith believes Temba Bavuma's 'calm and assured' leadership will be key to the Proteas' chances in the World Test Championship final against Australia at Lord's next month. Smith famously lifted the golden ICC Test mace at Lord's back in 2012 after leading the Proteas to the No 1 Test ranking. The Proteas have an opportunity to reclaim the coveted mace at the very same hallowed venue 13 years later, but enter the final as 'underdogs' against the defending champions. Unlike Smith's hardened 2012 veterans, Bavuma will lead a greenhorn Proteas side whose most experienced player is fast bowler Kagiso Rababa with 70 caps. 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. 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. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading The skipper, who has also yet to play at Lord's, will therefore have a critical role to play in ensuring the occasion does not overwhelm his team. 'Arriving at Lords, there can be a lot of fanfare because it's people's first experience of the museum, the ground, the traditions that come with it, the Members Stand,' Smith exclusively told Independent Media on the Indy Sports Show. 'Often it's about getting those little things out of the way and dealing with it pre-game. It is just an amazing place to go and play cricket and to have a World Championship final there, adds to the occasion. 'I think Temba will go about it his own way though. He's not a guy that shouts from the rooftops. He's calm and assured.' Bavuma has been the Proteas' leading Test batter over the past two years, averaging 60.90, in the red-ball arena. Proteas Test captain Temba Bavuma. Picture: Supplied. Image: Supplied Smith, whose name is up on the honours board for the highest score by an overseas player after he struck a double century in his first Test at Lord's in 2003, feels that Bavuma's role with the willow will be critical to the mood in the Proteas dressingroom. 'We know that they've got certain challenges they're going to need to overcome against a very successful Australian team. They're the underdogs,' Smith said. 'The most important thing for Temba is his performance with the bat. There's a lot of players in that line-up that can bat around a Temba, and with his consistent performance of late, if he can take that into the game, it really does calm things down and settle things down for the rest of the unit. 'But what an opportunity. It would be fantastic to see, in a one-off Test match, they give it everything and perform their skills.' Independent Media's Zaahier Adams will be at Lord's for the World Test Championship bringing you all the news, videos and podcasts. Picture: Independent Media Image: Independent Media
