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South Africa are set to take a historic step in their Test cricket journey as they prepare to compete in their maiden ICC World Test Championship final.
South Africa prepare for their first-ever WTC final at Lord’s
The grand occasion awaits them at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground, where they will face the formidable Australian team, starting June 11. For a side that has often shown great promise in red-ball cricket without reaching the summit in ICC events, this marks a significant breakthrough. Their qualification came on the back of a nerve-wracking two-wicket win against Pakistan during the Boxing Day Test in Centurion last year. It was not just a thrilling victory but also a pivotal one, as it sealed their place in the WTC Final. With eight wins, three defeats, and a solitary draw, the Proteas ended the league phase atop the points table with a commendable PCT (percentage of points) of 69.44. However, despite their impressive record, their journey hasn’t been without its critics.
A challenging road with mixed results and strategic choices
The path to the final was far from straightforward. South Africa kicked off their WTC 2023-25 campaign at home with a tightly contested series against India, which ended 1-1. They suffered a loss in the opening match, only to bounce back with a resounding victory by an innings and 32 runs in the second. However, the momentum was abruptly interrupted during their tour of New Zealand, where they fielded a largely second-string team due to a scheduling clash with the SA20, their premier domestic T20 league.
This decision drew sharp criticism from some quarters, especially as it resulted in a 0-2 whitewash in New Zealand. The true turning point in South Africa’s campaign came with their disciplined performances on foreign soil. The Proteas demonstrated their grit and skill during their tour of the West Indies, winning the two-Test series 1-0.
The momentum carried into their next assignment against Bangladesh, where the Proteas delivered a dominant 2-0 series win. South Africa’s final surge towards the WTC Final came through two emphatic home series wins that propelled them to the top of the standings. First, they blanked Sri Lanka 2-0 in a series hosted in Durban and Gqeberha. Then came their all-important series against Pakistan, their last WTC assignment. Temba Bavuma‘s men delivered under pressure, sweeping the series 2-0 with wins by two wickets and ten wickets, respectively.
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James Anderson throws shade at South Africa’s WTC route
Despite South Africa’s admirable performances throughout the WTC cycle, their qualification for the final hasn’t been without controversy. The most prominent criticism came from veteran England pacer James Anderson, who publicly questioned the strength of the Proteas’ path to the summit clash.
Speaking to talSPORT Cricket on their Youtube channel, Anderson, one of Test cricket’s most respected voices, stirred the pot by suggesting that South Africa had benefited from what he described as an ‘relatively easier than England’ in the WTC league phase. He emphasized that the Proteas haven’t done the grueling overseas tours that have traditionally tested the grit and depth of elite Test teams. Notably, South Africa did not tour India, Australia or England, three of the most challenging venues in red-ball cricket, throughout the cycle. Instead, they played shorter two-Test series, often against lower-ranked teams or in more familiar home conditions, which some argue inflated their win-loss record.
“I think the difficult thing for England is that, being a northern hemisphere team, we play 12 months a year. We play much more cricket than everyone else. It’s harder to keep players fit. And you know, look at the current WTC cycle, South Africa got into the final and the teams they have played aren’t, you know… not necessarily the strongest teams in the world. Meanwhile, we’ve played five Test matches in India. We’re playing three-Test series minimum, and we’re playing a lot more games and in difficult conditions,” Anderson said in a detailed critique.
