After ending a 27-year wait to win an International Cricket Council’s Test Championship (ICC), the Proteas have only just started to build momentum towards a culture of winning.
In a thrilling final against Australia, the Proteas secured a historic victory with a five-wicket win on day four at Lord’s in England on Saturday.
This was the first senior men’s trophy since the 1998 ICC Knockout victory.
“We hope that this can be the start of a lot more of these trophies. As much as we have achieved what we achieved in the past 18 to 24 months, this is not a big legacy as of yet. We will speak again in two to three years. We want to start a culture of winning trophies for the country,” Proteas captain Temba Bavuma said in Johannesburg at a media briefing.
‘Electrifying welcome’
The team received an electrifying welcome with jubilation, song and dance from supporters on their arrival at OR Tambo International Airport on Wednesday morning.
“Seeing so many people welcome us at the airport was quite overwhelming. It was different from the last time we came back from the World Cup in 2023. You don’t really realise what you have done until you start to interact with people.
“To see the emotion, to hear the things they have got to say; it gives you an insight into what we have done. As a team we are proud that we have been able to achieve something like this, but we are even happier that we have made our people proud,” Bavuma said.
This marked South Africa’s first-ever appearance in a World Test Championship Final, and their triumphant performance signalled a landmark achievement for the nation’s cricketing history.
This as Australia, currently ranked number one in the ICC Men’s Test Team Rankings, entered the final as favourites and defending champions.
The Proteas, ranked second, rose to the occasion and delivered a memorable performance, cementing their status as one of the world’s elite Test sides.
Bavuma expressed how the team’s journey has not been an easy one.
“As a team we have our story. It wasn’t a simple and easy one. We have overcome a lot and managed to get to where we are. The biggest thing is that we have embraced everything that means to be a South African,” he said.
The cricket team hopes this inspires budding cricketers and the nation.
“Similarly to them, in their quest, their journey for what they want to achieve, as long as they keep having that passion, keep pushing against what people think is the unachievable.
“We have been confident enough that we have been playing good cricket. We have been getting ourselves in a position where we can be in finals. Just like with anything, you got to keep going and keep being relentless.
“There was always that belief that at some point the harder we knock on that door, that it was going to happen,” Bavuma said.
He said the beauty about international cricket is that there is always more games to play.
“There’s the Zimbabwe tournament that leads into the start of the new Test cycle [which] we will be setting our eyes on what we want to achieve over there. There is always something that we are working towards, it’s a legacy that we want to achieve [and] and trying to put together as a team.
“The legacy is not done yet. For now, we want to enjoy what this moment has brought to us,” Bavuma said.
Cricket South Africa’s (CSA) head of national teams, Enoch Nkwe, said this victory will have a huge impact on generations to come.
He said this restores a lot of faith and belief in South African cricket.
“We look at this format as a foundation to key fundamentals to other formats and the growth of cricket, not only in South Africa, but globally. What is encouraging is this is going to motivate a 15-year-old. We are going to ensure from behind the scenes that will continue to build these building blocks through this format,” Nkwe said.
‘Gives the nation hope’
Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, said the team’s win gives the nation hope.
“People should see themselves when they watch our national teams, and that is what we are doing in cricket. They are following in the footsteps of rugby. We are a socially cohesive country [and] a rainbow nation, and you can see this.
“We are the best sporting nation in the world. We have the strongest women and men in the world. We have the fastest runners, the best soccer players, [and] we have the best rugby players and cricket team,” the Minister said.
“You know the difference with this team … Shukri Conrad is the best coach in the world, but one thing he did with this team is make them believe.
“They don’t need motivation. We believed they were going to win. Conrad believed they were going to win and they believed they were going to win. It’s the recipe for where we are today.
“They say cometh the hour, cometh the man. Temba Bavuma, he rose at the right time. Temba means hope, and he brought hope to the nation.”
McKenzie also hailed the team’s diversity, drawing comparisons with the Springboks, who are loved by all people from all walks of life in the country.
“People should see themselves when they watch our national teams. White kids must see themselves. Coloured kids must see themselves. Black and Indian kids must see themselves. That is what the Proteas are doing here,” the minister said.
“They are following in the footsteps of the Springboks. We are a socially cohesive country … we are the rainbow nation. A black captain in Temba Bavuma and the children are singing his name, children from all creeds and colours.”
McKenzie also hinted that there will be an announcement about bonuses for the team.
“We will talk about that later,” McKenzie said.
“We have got so many winners, all these bonuses can bankrupt the country!”
‘Warm reception’
Proteas men’s head coach Shukri Conrad also expressed his joy at the warm reception the team received upon their arrival at the airport.
“I am absolutely ecstatic to see people come out in their hundreds. It makes this win even more special. We won a few days ago but it hasn’t sunk in. To get a reception like this… it starts to sink in. The guys have been great, but the fans have been better,” Conrad said.
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