Bavuma on WTC Final - “Prepared to run through a brick wall to make sure we win”
The Proteas skipper opened up on the richly-awaited summit clash between South Africa and Australia scheduled to be played at Lord’s in June.
South Africa Test captain Temba Bavuma believes leading his country in their maiden ICC World Test Championship (WTC) Final is the highest point of his Test career since making debut in 2014.
Speaking to the reporters after the hosts capped off a 2-0 series sweep against Pakistan on 6 January, Bavuma said, “The highest point (is) probably now, qualifying for the (World Test Championship) Final.
“That - next to me making my debut for South Africa - will be one of the biggest things.
“Hopefully, I’ll be fit around the time. That's probably the biggest achievement for myself personally, and probably for the group as well.
“We have an opportunity to do something special for the country. One thing I know is with that group of player everyone will try and run through a brick wall to make sure we get on the right side of that result.”
South Africa became the first team to make the cut for the one-off final after their win in the first Test against Pakistan in Centurion.
Their final assignment in the 2023/25 WTC cycle saw the Proteas clinch a comprehensive 10-wicket win against Pakistan to claim a 2-0 series win. Sitting on top of the the nine-team points table, South Africa have won eight off their 12 Tests during the aforementioned time frame.
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Bavuma however, feels that the team is yet to deliver their best. “As much as we have got the success, I don’t think we are a well-oiled machine.
“We have seen in certain moments of the game that we have let it go too much in the opposition’s favour and it has taken some form of brilliance from us to bring it back.
“When you speak about the special factor within the team, it is our ability to find a way (to win). We are still on a journey and not close to playing 100 percent. But there is something special brewing within the team and it will be scary when we are firing on all cylinders.”
Bavuma and Co will face Australia in the WTC25 Final after the latter registered a 3-1 series win at home against India to make the cut.
When asked if the Pat Cummins-led side was the team he most looked forward to facing in the final, Bavuma replied, “Look, if I can choose one team, probably not Australia. But I mean it is what it is, right?
“We’ll prepare as well as we can for Australia. Probably, more mentally, like you say, to have those conversations, probably the guys who have been in those positions more than the younger guys, you don’t want to burden them with whatever baggage that we come with.
“We’ll obviously have to adjust our processes for the conditions in England and obviously the opposition as well. But we’ll stay true to that. And we’ll go out and fight, whatever happens, we’ll go out and fight.”
The World Test Championship 2025 Final shall be played at Lord’s from 11-16 June this year.