Proteas have built a winning culture without relying on superstars

Two days before the start of South Africa’s historic 30-run win over India in Kolkata, Proteas coach Shukri Conrad said his team only had one superstar in their ranks: Kagiso Rabada.

Following a rib injury earlier in the week, Rabada failed a late fitness test on the opening day of the match, and was subsequently ruled out.

It meant South Africa had to face one of the toughest challenges in modern cricket — taking on India in India — without the one player in their ranks who can change the complexion of a match in a single session.

In opposition, the Proteas faced a side littered with some of the biggest names in the game, including Jasprit Bumrah, Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja — all of whom will very likely go down in history as among the best their country has produced.

A few days later, Keshav Maharaj snagged the wicket of Mohammed Siraj with a lovely loop and turn on the ball which caught the edge and was scooped up by Aiden Markram at slip. It was Rabada — dressed in his Test whites — who was on the field celebrating first — almost at the instant Markram caught the floating ball.

The burly fast bowler was handing out big bear hugs to his teammates with a smile nearly as long as the cracks on the Eden Garden surface on his face.

It’s not the first time South Africa have defied the odds in Test cricket. In June, their World Test Championship (WTC) final victory was also against a team that many people believed were a class above the blossoming Proteas outfit.

But the Proteas are currently in full bloom.

Diverse environment

Shukri Conrad has created a team and an environment willing to fight for each other.

“South Africa is a diverse country with diverse cultures, and this change-room has embraced all of it,” he said after South Africa’s first win in India in 15 years.

“We’ve allowed people, players, to be exactly who they are, how they want to do things. Yes, we operate with, obviously, a set of norms and ethics and values as to what’s expected of an elite side and a high-performance side.

“But it’s like a bunch of mates who are playing together. They don’t give up. They practice hard. They’ll party hard (after the win).

“More importantly, we’ve just allowed a culture to develop organically rather than stick a few points [on the wall] and [say] ‘This is how we want to do things.’”

South Africa have no batter in their ranks who averages above 40 in Test cricket. Yet, Conrad has assembled a gritty group of players who are willing to fight for every single run on the field, led by a man who exemplifies the term more than most people who have played the game.

“We have great leaders — obviously, in Temba [Bavuma],” Conrad said. 

“A quiet leader, he does the talking with the bat. Then we have some serious statesmen in there like KG [Rabada] and Aidan Markram, who do wonders in that change-room, [as well as] Kesh, and some of the older folk.

“I don’t think there’s a recipe, really, or a magic wand. It’s really just allowing things to unfold organically and really showing faith in them, just allowing them — ‘Listen, this is how we want to do things. This is how I’m going to back you to go and play. And let’s find a way, let’s never give up.’

“All you can ever ask of a team is to fight for every run and stay in the battle, and this side does that.”

Believing the hype

According to Conrad, South Africa’s WTC win over Australia has instilled the confidence among the players that they can achieve “great things”.

“I think it gives you the belief that you can do great things on special occasions at special places,” he said.

The victory in Kolkata was one of those special occasions. South Africa are now a victory (or a draw) in Guwahati away from their first series win in India in 25 years.

It’s an achievement Conrad believes his side are capable of pulling off. More than believing it, he wants them to not be surprised out how good they are.

“The good thing is that you want to create an environment and a belief in the side that they shouldn’t be surprised when they do certain things,” Conrad said. They shouldn’t be surprised when you come to India and beat them. It’s tough. It’s a massive achievement, but this is what we’re able to do.

“And, hopefully, we’ll be able to do that in Guwahati as well. It certainly sets it up beautifully.”

Under Conrad and Bavuma the South African Test team has soared to new heights by building an environment shaped on unity. DM