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Follow UsWhen South Africa announced the squad for its tour of New Zealand, one of their six series in the World Test Championship (WTC ) 2023-25 cycle, they were mocked and called non-serious about Test cricket.
The squad for that series included Neil Brand as captain and Clyde Fortuin as wicketkeeper, among other unknown names. However, two from that squad—David Bedingham and Dane Piedt—made their way to the regular squad as well.
That was at the end of January this year. Cut to 11 months later, on December 29, and we have the first finalist of WTC, and guess what? It is the non-serious Test nation that has gone past all the serious contenders and become the first team to head to Lord’s, where the final will be played from June 11, 2025, onwards.
But how did this change come about? Here’s South Africa’s road to the Lord’s that recaps their journey through this WTC cycle:
The start of South Africa’s WTC 2023-25 journey was as good as it gets. They beat 2023 finalists India in their first-ever encounter in the Boxing Day Test at SuperSport Park Centurion.
Thanks to Dean Elgar’s daddy hundred (185) and destructive bowling from Kagiso Rabada (8 wickets) and debutant Nandre Burger (7 wickets), Proteas won the game by an innings and 32 runs.
In the New Year’s Test, though, the situation was different as South Africa were bowled out for 55 in their first innings thanks to Mohammed Siraj’s 6/15.
Although India too could score only 153 in their first innings, they still scraped through for a seven-wicket win as Jasprit Bumrah’s six-for in South Africa’s second innings meant that they were bowled out for 176.
South Africa’s ‘D’ team lost 0-2 to New Zealand
Right after the India series ended, South Africa’s premier T20 tournament, SA20, began.
Due to franchise commitments, most of the team’s first-choice players could not make it to the squad and they travelled to New Zealand with a team that was back then called the D team due to the amount of unrecognised players in it led by Neil Brand.
The obvious happened as Proteas men were swept away 2-0 by the hosts.
Rain halts Proteas’ sweep against West Indies
After February, South Africa next played Tests in August as they toured the West Indies. In the first game, the team from the Rainbow Nation needed five more wickets to win the contest when the hosts needed 96 more runs, with the last recognised batting pair at the crease.
In the second game, though, Keshav Maharaj spun his team to a famous win. It was after this series that South Africa’s scoreline in WTC read two wins, three losses, and a draw. They were placed in fifth position, climbing two spots and remaining in contention for a spot in the ultimate final.
The unexpected series sweep in Bangladesh
However, the series that turned things around for the Proteas was their tour of Bangladesh. With the Bangladesh side having beaten Pakistan at home, it looked like the South African team was in for a tough outing in Asia once again.
However, the batters' good application, combined with an underperforming Bangladesh team, meant that the visitors not only won their first Test series in Asia in 10 years but also completed their first series sweep in Asia since 2007-08.
At the end of this unexpected tour, where they had centuries from Tony de Zorzi, Kyle Verreynne, Wiaan Mulder and Tristan Stubbs and five-wicket hauls from Rabada (two) and Maharaj, the Proteas were in the top three of the WTC points table for the first time.
Breezing past Sri Lanka to set up WTC final hopes
After the end of the Bangladesh series, South Africa could finally dream of making it to the final. They were, of course, helped by India losing their home series 0-3 to New Zealand. The Proteas needed to win at least three out of four home Tests – two each against Sri Lanka and Pakistan.
They started their series against Sri Lanka brilliantly, bowling the visitors out for their lowest score ever in the first Test. They won it with ease by 233 runs. In the second one, though, the match got tight, with Sri Lanka needing 143 to win on the last day with five wickets in hand.
However, Maharaj took a five-wicket haul and bowled his team to a 109-run victory, pushing them to the top of the WTC points table with just one series to go.
Boxing Day win against Pakistan seals spot in Lord’s finale
Just one win away from securing a spot in the final at Lord’s, Proteas faced Pakistan in the first Test in Centurion. They did bowl the visitors out for 211 but found themselves in a spot of bother at 191/7 when debutant Corbin Bosch rose to the occasion and scored a fascinating 81* off just 93 balls to give his team a crucial 90-run lead.
The lead proved more than just crucial as they had to chase just 148 after Pakistan managed to post 237 in their second innings.
However, the fears of choking at important junctures once again came to the forefront as the hosts lost four wickets for three runs, getting reduced from 96/4 to 99/8.
The loss seemed certain before Rabada turned on the batter in him and scored 31 off just 26 balls, partnering Marco Jansen (16*) in an unbeaten 51-run ninth-wicket stand.
