South Africa’s victory in the two-Test series against Sri Lanka on Monday has elevated them to the top of the World Test Championship standings, setting them on a clear path to the final next year. This achievement would have been unimaginable just a year ago.

With five consecutive Test wins, including triumphs over West Indies in Guyana, two wins in Bangladesh, and two victories against Sri Lanka, South Africa now leads the Test results table over the past two-year cycle. They are now within reach of securing a spot in the final at Lord’s, scheduled from June 11-15.

South Africa’s latest win came by a margin of 109 runs at St George’s Park in Gqeberha, following their 233-run victory in Durban a week earlier. If they manage to win the upcoming two-Test series against Pakistan, starting in Pretoria on Boxing Day, they will guarantee their place in the WTC final.

“We weren’t even thinking about this when we went to the West Indies in August,” said coach Shukri Conrad, reflecting on the team’s limited expectations at the start of the 2023-25 WTC cycle. The team began with a 1-1 series draw against India and later forfeited a two-Test series in New Zealand due to scheduling conflicts with the SA20 league.

Cricket South Africa allowed their top Test players to participate in the domestic Twenty20 competition, sending an under-strength team to New Zealand where they were defeated. However, South Africa has since turned things around with five wins in their last six Test matches, potentially revitalizing the longer format of the game in a country where it faces challenges.

South Africa plays fewer Tests compared to other nations, with only 12 in the latest WTC cycle compared to 21 for England and 19 each for Australia and India. This has been a source of frustration for the players.

“In South Africa, T20 cricket dominates, but Test cricket is still highly valued by many players,” said captain Temba Bavuma. However, poor attendance at Test matches remains a concern. “Many people complain that we don’t play enough Tests, yet they don’t show up for the few we do have,” said CSA chief executive Pholetsi Moseki.

Advancing to the WTC final could help shift public perception and provide a much-needed boost for the Test format in South Africa.

Source link:   https://www.khaleejtimes.com