EDITORIAL | Tough at the top for Proteas, but they also need more Test matches

The first Test at Kingsmead against an Australian team stung by recent criticism at home and determined to set the record straight from last year’s World Test Championship (WTC) final defeat at Lord’s was a back-to-earth moment for the Proteas.

Since shocking the Australians with a classic and remarkable comeback victory in that final in June last year that was marked by Temba Bavuma’s brave batting and tactical captaincy, Aiden Markram’s exemplary 136 and Kagiso Rabada’s nine wickets, South Africa have become the standard-bearers for the countries deprived of Test cricket.

It was a shock result. South Africa’s place in the WTC final had been questioned among the big three in the sport. They showed they were not just supposed to be there, they won it, sending a message to the game’s hierarchy.

The five-day game has suffered, under threat from T20 cricket and also the International Cricket Council’s scheduling that has seen only the big three of India, Australia and England play regular Test cricket and long series against each other in recent years, and the rest feeding off the scraps. It is a short-sighted approach that endangers the future of the five-day game.

Going into the first Test in Durban that ended on Tuesday with a commanding 214-run victory to Australia after a mistake-plagued batting and unconvincing bowling display from the Proteas, South Africa had last played a Test in the drawn series in Pakistan in October 2025 and historic 2-0 win in India in November 2025, 11 months ago.

Proteas coach Shukri Conrad openly admitted to his team’s failings and a need for a step up in team selection, tactics and application in the second Test that starts at St George’s Park in Gqeberha on Sunday.

He also pointed out it’s the nature of sport that teams sometimes don’t perform at their best, especially in the face of what might be an ageing Australian combination, but one that still possesses huge experience and quality and one of the most dangerous bowling attacks seen in the sport.

He also wryly pointed out that when Australia had an eight-month break in Tests from thrashing England in the Ashes in a series that ended in January to hosting Bangladesh in August, they suffered a seismic-shock, historic defeat to the minnows in the first Test, a far worse result than the Proteas this week.

Had Conrad had more Test matches, he might have experimented more with line-ups and had more leeway and confidence to change out stalwart players not performing.

The South African coach was at pains to stress these weren’t excuses.

The first-ever series win in India late last year was still a honeymoon period after the WTC final. It is a tough summer for the Proteas, but also one filled with exciting Test cricket for supporters.

Even in these home games against Australia and England (with a two-Test series against up-and-coming Bangladesh also in the mix), three-Test series apiece are indicative of the battle for teams outside the big three to get longer programmes. Four Tests would have been really juicy and given the Proteas more matches in the format against top-class opposition.

But Australia are here with a point to prove and so are England, complete with new team leadership. So for the Proteas, the lack of matches is simply the reality and continuing to prove they are worthy WTC champions will take finding success in those circumstances.

Simply, also, South Africa have to step up from a patchy opening match against the Aussies. Can they? Certainly. They are comeback kings. For cricket fans, the old line from the 1990s TV advert will be on their minds: Come on Summer.