Proteas coach Shukri Conrad has warned Test rivals that his team can still get better, despite beating Australia 2-1 at home.
The series win lifted South Africa to the top of the ICC Test rankings. According to IOL, it was only the second such series win over Australia at home since readmission.
“We can be awesome one minute and absolutely horrendous the next,” Conrad said. “But in the end, we are a lot more awesome than we are horrendous.”
The coach said the team still falls short in some areas. “We’re still short in certain areas where we need to get better, and I think that’s the pleasing part for me, that there’s still so much room for improvement,” he said.
South Africa are also the reigning World Test Champions, after their win at Lord’s last year. Even so, IOL reported that the Proteas were under pressure for long periods against Australia. Some of that pressure came from their own unforced errors.
The batting unit was also inconsistent, according to the report, and changes were made during the series. Conrad is not yet talking about a return to the World Test Championship Final at The Oval next year.
He said the team would not boast about its place in the rankings. “I don’t think you ever want to walk around saying you’re the best. I think that comes with a sense of knowing,” Conrad said.
“It was always about how we’re going to get to the top and remain at the top for an extended period of time,” he added.
Ryan Rickelton and Wiaan Mulder scored match-winning centuries under pressure in the deciding Test at Newlands. Conrad said those innings would help the rest of the batters believe in themselves.
“Give us a lot of belief that we’re not overly reliant on the two senior guys at the top, or on the lower order to provide us with much-needed runs,” he said.
Conrad then turned to the matches ahead. Bangladesh and England are both due to visit South Africa later this year.
“Every Test series becomes the biggest Test series,” he said. “Bangladesh are going to come here with quicks who can be very, very effective on the surfaces on the Highveld.”
He said Bangladesh had beaten Australia not long ago, although they lost heavily to the West Indies. He also said they now have a South African coach in their change room.
“It’s critical for us that we take the good from here,” Conrad said of the next series.
Source: this article is based on reporting by IOL Sport. Image: IOL Sport. Written with the help of AI and published by the Tzaneen Voice Sports desk. See our Editorial Standards.
Tiyani Mathebula writes about sport for Tzaneen Voice. Tiyani covers Bafana Bafana, the Springboks, the Proteas and the PSL, along with athletics, tennis and local club sport. Match reports and previews focus on results, team news, fixtures and what each game means for South African teams and fans.