Proteas captain Temba Bavuma believes South Africa have answered questions about their World Test Championship success after completing a remarkable comeback to beat Australia 2-1 in their three-match Test series.

South Africa secured a 176-run victory in the third and final Test at Newlands on Saturday, with Simon Harmer producing a sensational bowling performance to dismiss Australia for just 111 in their pursuit of 288.

Harmer claimed 6/16 in the second innings and finished with match figures of 10/120, while Kagiso Rabada took three early wickets to put Australia under immediate pressure.

The victory completed an impressive turnaround for South Africa, who suffered a 214-run defeat in the opening Test in Durban before responding with an innings-and-31-run victory in Gqeberha.

The Proteas also climbed to the top of the ICC Test rankings, adding another significant achievement to a period that has already included their World Test Championship triumph at Lord’s in 2025.

Speaking after the series victory, Bavuma reflected on the team’s progress, the resilience of his players and the significance of defeating one of the strongest teams in world cricket.

Bavuma: Proteas Have Answered Their Critics

South Africa’s World Test Championship triumph had attracted questions about the strength of their opposition and the route they took to the final.

However, Bavuma believes the manner in which the Proteas overcame Australia has demonstrated the quality within the squad.

“I think the series in itself, I mean, I think it was an enthralling 15 days of cricket,” Bavuma said.

“I think to go from 10 months of no cricket to something like that, I think that will be remembered as one of the iconic Test series, at least in this century, I’d like to believe.

“Two quality sides who came up against each other and really forced each other to play their best cricket.”

Bavuma emphasised that the performances throughout the series, rather than simply the final result, should strengthen belief in the team.

“If I think before the series against Australia, if we were given the favourite tag, I’m not too sure about that.

“But I do hope with the way that we performed, not the result, but the way that we performed, it’s given that belief.

“And I guess in a cheeky way, we answered to certain critics saying that what we did at the WTC was a fluke.

“So, yeah, sky’s the limit for the team.”

Belief and Unity Behind South Africa’s Success

Reflecting on the team’s development over the past two-and-a-half years, Bavuma admitted that he had not necessarily expected the Proteas to reach their current position so quickly.

The captain attributed their progress to a shared ambition and the belief that has developed within the dressing room.

“Us as a team, we are driven by this ambition to achieve what it is that we want to achieve,” he explained.

“You kind of look at all the narratives and the sentiments and the stories that are created around it all.

“You have to answer questions as to why a certain guy is playing. There’s all of that, but us as a team, we just stick internally in terms of what we want to achieve.

“I think we’ve surpassed a lot of the things that we put to ourselves. But I think it’s just because of that belief and that oneness that we have as a team.”

Bavuma acknowledged the significance of South Africa reaching the top of the Test rankings.

“We understand that we are number one on the ICC log. So, I think, again, that’s just testament to everything that has gone in.

“Did I think two years or two and a half years we’d be in this position? Probably not.

“But like I’ve always said to the team, we’d like to see after four years what it is that we’ve achieved.”

Rickelton and Mulder Reward the Selectors’ Faith

One of the defining moments of the Newlands Test came through Ryan Rickelton and Wiaan Mulder’s sixth-wicket partnership in South Africa’s second innings.

With the Proteas under pressure, Rickelton scored 101 and Mulder contributed 115 as the pair added 154 runs to help South Africa set Australia a target of 288.

Bavuma was particularly pleased to see the middle order make important contributions after questions had been raised about the team’s batting.

“I think, personally, for those guys, that will do them a world of good,” he said.

“We were tested from all angles every day. We were under pressure.

“And I think, as a batter, we came up against probably one of the best bowling attacks going around.

“So, to be able to put runs on the board, you look at the situation of the game, those two guys, I think it’s confidence that they can really move around with and obviously try and get better with that.”

The captain also defended the selectors’ faith in players who had faced scrutiny earlier in the series.

“The guys that we select, there’s theory behind it.

“I remember after Gqeberha, after Durban, answering questions about certain of those players, about their position in the team.

“It’s that type of faith that we’re able to show where guys can perform like that.

“So not really surprised from my side. I’m seeing those guys do that a lot at the Lions. But obviously, here is where it counts a lot more.”

Resilience Has Become Part of the Proteas’ Identity

South Africa’s ability to recover from difficult positions has been a recurring feature of their recent Test performances.

Having lost heavily in Durban, the Proteas faced significant pressure to turn the series around.

Bavuma believes the character of his players has been central to their success and remains an important consideration in selection.

“Characteristically, yes,” he said when asked whether resilience was a factor in choosing players.

“You consider a guy like Matthew Breetzke coming in mid-series, those are the type of things that we consider.

“Shooks, he’s got a crazy formula that he uses. For me, it’s to keep questioning him to make sure that we’re making the right decision.

“But also, whatever decision we make, we back it with 100% conviction.”

Bavuma explained that resilience was something he wanted to establish within the team’s identity.

“From a leader point of view, I guess you always want to leave a little bit of yourself within the team.

“Resilience is a word that we speak about as a South African Proteas team.

“I think resilience is something that features massively within my own career as a cricketer.

“I’d love for us to be a side that can play a lot more from the front. But if playing from behind, if us being resilient, that gets the best of us, then I guess we’ll keep riding that for as long as it pays us good.”

The captain said the response to the Durban defeat had required more than additional preparation.

“It wasn’t a case of us hitting a lot more balls or bowling a lot more overs.

“It was about guys looking deep into their own characters and finding it in them to, like I always say, do something special within the team.”

Harmer and Rabada Deliver When It Matters

Harmer was named Player of the Match after claiming 10 wickets at Newlands, including a remarkable second-innings spell that featured 14 maidens in 21.1 overs.

The off-spinner’s performance came after he had been disappointed with aspects of his bowling in the previous Test.

Bavuma praised Harmer’s response and the contribution of the wider squad, including Keshav Maharaj, who continued to offer tactical advice despite not playing.

“He was disappointed in how he went about his business in Gqeberha, in that second Test.

“But in true champion spirit, the opportunity was there. And he made the play for the team.

“As much as Keshav wasn’t involved on the field, he was still providing valuable input from a tactical point of view.

“You’re never going to lose a player like that.”

Rabada also played a decisive role, taking three wickets in the opening seven overs of Australia’s second innings, including his 350th Test wicket when he dismissed Travis Head.

Bavuma revealed that managing Rabada’s return from injury had required patience, particularly because of the fast bowler’s determination to play.

“It’s not easy dealing with a guy like KG because he wants to play all the time,” Bavuma said.

“For him, a lot of it was the medical team taking ownership of that decision. We had to hold him back, as tough a decision as it was.

“We had to hold him back and bring him in when we were 100% or at least 90% confident that we’d be able to play close to his best.

“I think at the end, it worked out for the team. It worked out for KG.

“The way that he bowled today really was close to him being at his best.”

Bavuma Praises Newlands Crowd

The series victory was particularly meaningful for the Proteas as it provided an opportunity to celebrate their World Test Championship success in front of their home supporters.

Bavuma was full of praise for the Newlands crowd and the atmosphere throughout the decisive Test.

“I’m very biased, right? I don’t think there’s a better crowd or venue that you can play Test cricket at here at Newlands,” he said.

“Normally, we’re used to playing our New Year’s Test here at Newlands, but I think in terms of the reception that we received at this time of the year, it was no different than what you would expect in a New Year’s Test.

“For us as a team as well, we were looking forward to that opportunity of playing here at home, our first opportunity since being WTC champions.

“And we’d like to think that we didn’t disappoint our local faithful.”

Something Special Is Brewing

With South Africa now preparing for their next Test assignment against Bangladesh, Bavuma believes the team must take time to appreciate what they have accomplished.

He also highlighted the combination of youth, experience and collective ambition within the squad.

“We play for each other, and we play for the moments to do something special for the team,” he said.

“There’s that freshness in terms of guys freeing themselves, expressing themselves.

“You saw a guy like Ackerman come out and play like that. The exuberance, not of youth, but just that exuberance that he showed there.

“Within our team, it’s something that we encourage.”

Bavuma believes the coaching staff have also played a major role in creating an environment where players can thrive.

“The coaching staff were always pouring into the team.

“I think something special is really, really brewing there amongst the group.”

For now, the Proteas captain wants his players to enjoy their achievement before turning their attention to the next challenge.

“It’ll be important for us to acknowledge what we’ve achieved, celebrate whatever milestones, take whatever learnings that come with it.

“But I think really bask in what we’ve achieved.”

Having overcome Australia in a fiercely contested series, South Africa have strengthened their position among the world’s leading Test teams.

And for Bavuma, the belief within the dressing room suggests there is still more to come.

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