South Africa coach Shukri Conrad believes the Proteas’ recent series triumph over Australia is just the start as he predicts further improvement from his side as they seek a second consecutive ICC World Test Championship title.
The Proteas showed their class by defeating Australia 2-1 in the recently-completed Test series on home soil and in the process moved up to second place on the World Test Championship standings as they look to qualify for next year’s final.
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While Conrad was thrilled with how his side performed against the Aussies, the South Africa coach thinks his side might still have more to offer across the remainder of the World Test Championship cycle as they prepare for home series against Bangladesh (two Tests) and England (three Tests) and two fixtures against Sri Lanka.
“I still think there are one or two things that will make us the best version,” Conrad said.
“But my gosh, I wouldn’t have thought this a couple of days ago that we’d stand here. In the same breath, I’m also not surprised because that lot have it in them to do amazing things.”
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Conrad suggested the make-up of the Proteas’ best XI remained a work in progress, with the confident coach admitting he will continue to rotate his players as he searches for the best mix and the right combinations suited to winning each individual Test and series.
That will include making tough calls on players that helped South Africa deliver their first World Test Championship title at Lord’s last year and promoting new faces, as he did with the likes of Marques Ackerman and Matthew Breetzke across the Australia series.
“We’re getting the best XI on the bus. We’ve just got to find the right seats for them,” Conrad noted.
“The important bit is that very often you need to be quite malleable as a player also.
“You take Marques, for example, who’s come in and taken (to Test cricket) like a duck to water. He’s still going to mess things up because of the way he plays but he is a character that I don’t want to stymie in any way.”
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And while Conrad knows his side is well placed to qualify for another World Test Championship decider, the South Africa coach is not taking anything for granted and is only looking at the short-term as his team gets ready to host Bangladesh in two Tests later this month.
“Every Test series becomes the biggest Test series and the next Test series is the biggest Test series of the summer,” Conrad added.
“Bangladesh are going to come here with quicks that can be very effective on the surfaces on the Highveld.
“Let’s not forget that they not so long ago beat Australia.
“It’s critical for us that we take the good from here, look at where we can get better and make sure we hit the ground running against Bangladesh in a few weeks’ time.”
Australia Tour of South Africa Results:
First Test: Australia won by 214 runs
Second Test: South Africa won by an innings and 31 runs
Third Test: South Africa won by 176 runs
ICC World Test ChampionshipICC World Test Championship, 2025/27News
