South Africa up against Australia

CHENNAI: WHEN the World Test Championship (WTC) cycle began six years ago, little did anyone know what was in store. The scheduling, points system, number of matches each team and many such factors were imperfect. It, perhaps, still is. But it lent context. Two years on, India and New Zealand went head-to-head in the summit clash after two years of criss-crossing the Test playing globe. In 2023, India fell short, again, but this time to Australia.

Wednesday will see a non-Indian WTC final. Australia are there at the Lords, but their opponents will be the Temba Bavuma-led South Africa. For some reason, their qualification kicked up a lot of naysaying, especially from the English media, on how South Africa got to the final playing fewer games. Contrary to England’s 22 or Australia and India’s 19, South Africa played only 12 Tests in this WTC cycle. However, they won eight of them to top the table and advance to the final. They made the most of the opportunity provided and earned their right to be there.

Which is why it came as no surprise that Proteas head coach Shukri Conrad was tired of the argument. “We’re here and that’s all that matters,” he said on Monday. “We get a chance to walk away as the World Test champions, playing Australia. It doesn’t get any bigger than that. So, yeah, what’s gone before counts for absolutely nothing at the minute.”