South Africa captain Temba Bavuma has acknowledged that it's going to be tough for their team to face Australia in the World Test Championship (WTC) final 2025. However, the Proteas captain has faith in his team's strength to come out on top of in the all-important clash beginning from June 20 at the Lord's.
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00:00Yeah, thank you.
00:02Morning, Tampa.
00:03Do you have an 11 for us?
00:05Yeah, we do have a team.
00:08I guess I'll just run through it.
00:10Aidan and Rickleton at the top.
00:12Mulders comes in at three, myself a four.
00:15You've got Starboy five, Bellingham, you've got Karl,
00:19you've got Marco Jansen, Kesh, KG, and Lungi.
00:26And just preparation, it feels like a long time.
00:29You've been spending here in the nets and whatnot.
00:32It almost helps, doesn't it, coming to a place like this
00:34and then before match day you become accustomed to it
00:37and maybe not overawed.
00:39Yeah, I think, I mean, we've said it before,
00:42last time we played Red Bull cricket has been a while.
00:44So, you know, coming here a couple of days early
00:47has been helpful from that sense.
00:50A lot of our work was done in Arendelle.
00:53And I think coming here to Lourdes was really to kind of
00:56get accustomed to the place, the conditions,
01:01and then obviously getting yourself mentally in the right space.
01:04I think, you know, it has been a good build-up.
01:07It has felt a little bit long.
01:09I think the guys are raring to go and start the game.
01:15Temba, you mentioned Lungi will be playing.
01:18Can you just tell us a little bit about what swayed that decision?
01:21And I suppose he hasn't played for a while,
01:22but we heard Shooks sort of singing his praises
01:24when the squad was announced.
01:26Yeah, I think, I mean, probably one of the tougher decisions
01:30that have been made.
01:31We've seen what Pato did for us to the end of last season.
01:36But I think it was more from a tactical point of view, you know,
01:42probably a little bit more pace from Lungi.
01:45Comes from, I guess, his toddler as well.
01:48I think Lungs also has a good record, you know,
01:50not taking away anything from Pato.
01:52He has the experience he's paid here before,
01:56not that Pato hasn't.
01:58But I think he will complement that bowling attack,
02:02I guess, a little bit more.
02:04We have a guy like Mulder as well,
02:06who kind of gives you similar to what Pato can do.
02:09So, yeah, I think that was probably one of the difficult decisions
02:13that we had to make.
02:15And then just, you know, obviously you've had a lot of build-up
02:18and there's been a lot of talk over the last couple of weeks.
02:21What will you say to the guys tonight?
02:23I don't know if you will even address them tonight.
02:25And what will you say to yourself like in your quiet moments
02:27around what tomorrow's going to be like?
02:29Yeah, I think, I mean, we've been with the group now.
02:32Like I said, in our preparation,
02:34I think a lot of it has been emotive,
02:36understanding what the occasion is about,
02:38being here at Lourdes.
02:40So I think from a motivation point of view,
02:42there's not much that I can do.
02:44I think if players needed to be motivated,
02:47then that would be a problem.
02:49And now it's kind of maybe just kind of getting down to the fact
02:52that we actually need to play the game.
02:53Let's play what is in front of us.
02:55Let's not get caught up into too much of the story
02:59and what could be,
03:01and just be ready for what's to come.
03:03We accept and understand that it's going to be tough
03:05against the Australians.
03:07The guys who've played against them know.
03:09And look, I mean, there have been good times,
03:12there have been bad times,
03:13and we need to feed off all those good times.
03:15So, yeah, I think time for the emotions and the stories
03:18and all of that is to put it behind us
03:20and really be ready to play what's in front of us.
03:24Demba, like you said, obviously your focus will be
03:27what happens over the next five days
03:29and getting the better of Australia.
03:31But can you take a step away
03:33and acknowledge the importance of this match
03:36for the future of South African Test cricket
03:38and also for, say, other Test nations
03:40who struggle to play Test cricket as regularly
03:43as, say, in India, Australia or in England?
03:45Yeah, I think, I mean, if I think of the way things are back home,
03:51I think there have already been benefits
03:53for the people back home.
03:55I mean, if you think of the number of people
03:57who are flying in here to be a part of this occasion,
04:00to hopefully witness some sort of history,
04:03I think that already shows the positive impact
04:05that the game is having on the country as a whole.
04:10I think, obviously, with the younger guys as well
04:13being swayed by T20 cricket and all of that,
04:15I think, you know, the efforts that we're doing
04:17within the Red Bull space
04:19hopefully will inspire those younger guys
04:21to want to play Red Bull cricket.
04:24And I think you would have seen, with our squad
04:26going to Zimbabwe, the young guys,
04:28Luandri Petrorius, Diawalt, Brevis,
04:31all those young guys who are coming in,
04:33Lesejo as well, Senukwane,
04:35I think that will kind of keep them chomping at the bit
04:38in terms of Red Bull cricket.
04:39So, I think things are good.
04:42Obviously, also, as us being not as economically strong
04:46as the other nations,
04:48we want to make sure that we are competitive,
04:51we want to make sure that we're doing the right things
04:53on the field.
04:55Yeah.
04:57Just in the same way as you explained
05:00the decision for Ngidi over Patterson,
05:02can you talk a little bit about Milda at number three,
05:04what you're expecting there, what can he deliver?
05:06Yeah, I think, I mean, Mulder is quite young, obviously,
05:09in that position.
05:12But I think, you know, having played with Mulder,
05:15having seen him the way he's kind of grown,
05:17in the last two years within the Red Bull format,
05:20it's about giving him a lot more confidence,
05:23keep backing him, and just allowing him to do what he does best.
05:27So, I mean, I think, yes, he has an opportunity
05:31in a personal situation.
05:33But I think he can take comfort from the fact that,
05:36you know, the guys are backing him.
05:38We just want him to go out and play his game.
05:42Timber, can you just talk about how you think the team
05:45has evolved and improved since the 22-23 series,
05:48last time you played Australia?
05:51Last time?
05:52Oh, that wasn't a good time in Australia.
05:55I think, I mean, after then, I mean,
05:59there's a couple of more new faces from that series.
06:03I think for a lot of us who were there,
06:06it was a little bit of an eye-opener playing against Australia,
06:11seeing how their batters went about their business,
06:14facing their bowlers, and how, you know,
06:17you're always under pressure,
06:19and you kind of had to find ways to exert pressure back on them.
06:22And I think that, at least for me,
06:24gave me an opportunity to kind of have a look at my game,
06:29to see where I can improve,
06:31and hopefully try to emulate the performances
06:34that those batters were putting up at that point in time.
06:38And I think probably also in terms of the way
06:41that we wanted to play our cricket as a whole,
06:43it influenced that.
06:44And I think a guy like Shukri coming in,
06:46it was kind of at the right time, if I could say that.
06:50I mean, that when he came in, it was encouraging guys
06:53to be themselves, to play their best cricket.
06:55So, yeah, hopefully, you know, those memories are behind us.
07:01We can create some new ones now.
07:03But I think it was a critical point in our journey as cricketers.
07:09But for me, particularly, definitely.
07:12Tempa, what do you say to the likes of Ryan, Tristan, David,
07:16who are facing the Australian side in test cricket for the first time?
07:19Or do they see enough of them in, you know,
07:21white ball cricket, franchise tournaments
07:23that you really don't have to say too much?
07:25Yeah, I mean, all those guys will be up for it.
07:28Ryan, Tristan, they'll all be up for it.
07:31I think, like for us, I don't think it's any different, to be honest.
07:35You accept that it's going to be tough.
07:37But at the same time, you've got to have the belief
07:40that what you have is enough.
07:43I think belief is a big thing.
07:45A lot of the athletes will tell you that.
07:47And I think from a team's perspective,
07:49we don't expect the guys to be any different.
07:51Just be the player that you know, and we need you to be.
07:55The way Rickleton has come into the team
07:57and almost cemented his position there, the opener,
08:01there's a reason behind all of that.
08:03So whatever he's done to do that, let him continue that.
08:06And Stabo as well, exciting talent.
08:09You know, he has an opportunity for him to show
08:11why he's highly revered within our circles.
08:18Temba, you've this week spoken to Sport24, Guardian, ESPN.
08:24You did a piece with the BBC.
08:25To everyone, yes.
08:26Yeah, basically.
08:28I mean, is it easy to kind of stay above the narrative?
08:31Like your story, where have you come from?
08:33Are you able to kind of differentiate between
08:35focusing on what's happening also?
08:37How significant this is?
08:39Are you able to find that balance?
08:41Yeah, I think that's a good question.
08:43It's quite challenging, to be honest.
08:45I mean, yesterday we were at the captain's dinner
08:48with the Hall of Fame inductees.
08:51And that question got asked.
08:53I think, I mean, I try to focus on the cricket as much as I can,
08:58to be honest with you.
09:00I try not to get down too much into the emotional side of it.
09:03But it is important.
09:05It is a thing.
09:06I try to soak it in as much as I can in that moment.
09:10But then kind of switch into kind of the playing mode.
09:13So, I think like I said yesterday, I mean, my story has been an interesting one.
09:19It's been a beautiful one in a lot of ways.
09:21And, yeah, hopefully there's a lot more happy moments within it.
09:26Is it heavy to hold all that?
09:28Not, I mean, if you asked me three or four years ago,
09:31I'd probably say that, Daniel.
09:33But probably not so much now.
09:34I think I look at it with a lot more gratitude, if I could say.
09:38And I think it's just a part of, I guess, a part of my journey.
09:43Unique to me.
09:44And I think, I guess, it comes with being the first in a lot of things.
09:49So, I mean, now I think I can speak about it openly without much anxiety
09:55or anything like that.
09:56But, yeah, maybe four or five years ago, I would,
09:59I probably wouldn't even answer the question, yeah.
10:03Tim, for South Africans, it almost feels like Australia win ICC trophies all the time.
10:09And, of course, that's not the case with other teams.
10:12And I just wonder, what difference do you think this might make for teams like South Africa?
10:17We saw New Zealand win it the other year,
10:19and I'm not sure it's made that much of a difference for them.
10:21But what would it do?
10:23Yeah, I think, I mean, for us as the players, we know that we can,
10:27what we control is what we do on the field of play.
10:30And for us to remain competitive, for us to be regarded as a top cricketing nation,
10:35we've got to be in these positions where we can go for silverware.
10:39So, I think that's already ticked.
10:41I think, obviously, going over the line, you know, will, is part of the whole story.
10:47And I think for, for this bunch, for this bunch of players, for this group, for Shukri, you know,
10:54I think it will be a massive feather within, within our cap.
10:57So, yeah, we'll always try to focus on what we need to do on the field.
11:02We always speak about excellence.
11:05We always speak about doing something special for, for the country and also for, for each other.
11:10So, here's another opportunity for us to, to do that.
11:13Yeah, on that note, what would it mean to you to end the long wait for a world title for South Africa?
11:24Yeah, I guess it would be special.
11:26I mean, I've already said it's, it's a career.
11:30It's a highlight of, of, of my career.
11:34And I think it would be a nice thing to be a part of that, of that story.
11:38I guess my story, there's a lot of moments of resilience, moments of great determination, all of those type of things.
11:46And I guess it would be a nice if it's backed up with, with, with something.
11:50So, but I mean, that's part of the story, right?
11:53I don't, I don't write that story.
11:55Yeah, I can fantasize, but that's not for me really to, to dictate.
12:00But I think, yes, it will be special for, for a lot of people in a lot of ways.
12:04Timber, on the, on the Rabada situation, have you spoken to him very much about what happened?
12:11And how do you expect him to play tomorrow?
12:15Do you think it will be a motivation for him or added pressure?
12:18Definitely a motivation.
12:20I think, I mean, it's been, it's been a couple of weeks now that I guess everything has unfolded.
12:29Conversations have been had.
12:31He had a conversation with the team.
12:34He put himself on the spot for, I guess, further questioning from any of the players.
12:39And as far as we know, that's kind of behind us.
12:43We've really come here with the focus of what we need to do here.
12:46And I think he's in the best shape that he's ever been.
12:50So definitely motivated.
12:53We also play against the Australians as well.
12:55So, you know, that'll be extra motivation for him.
12:58But yeah, I think he's in, he's in a very good space.
13:01Timber, we saw Shuk spend a bit of time with Rassi in the buildup.
13:08You're good mates with Sia.
13:09Has he sent you a message?
13:11Has he sent you a good luck or just passed on any magical ways to win a World Cup?
13:17No, he actually hasn't.
13:20He actually hasn't.
13:22I should have a word with him.
13:24But yeah, I mean, Shukri had that opportunity.
13:27We kind of laugh at Shukri and ask who called who, you know.
13:31But I mean, he gave, he gave a bit of that feedback from, from how they do things.
13:36And I see he's kind of implemented one of those, one of that within the team.
13:42To answer your question, no, I haven't cherished Sia.
13:46Who lost to your question?
13:48Timber on, on the coach yesterday, I think his line was, he was confident that the team
13:53would be able to exploit any vulnerabilities that Australia has.
13:56Is potentially one of those vulnerabilities a non-specialist opening batter
14:01against the world class attack that you've got?
14:04Have they announced the team?
14:06Not yet.
14:07Okay.
14:08So who would open the betting then?
14:14Constance or Labashane.
14:16Constance or Labashane.
14:17Yeah, I think there's an opportunity there.
14:20I think the conditions as well, I believe, bring us into the game a lot.
14:26With the swinging ball, very different to, to, to, to Australian conditions.
14:31Different to South African conditions as well.
14:34So, yeah, that definitely gives us an opportunity.
14:37I think both teams have formidable bowling attacks.
14:41I think the real opportunity is within the two betting lineups and how they are able to kind
14:48of front up and give their bowlers a score to, to bowl at.
14:54Timber, have you sort of allowed yourself to dream about what it would be like to, to
15:00lift that trophy at the end of this, this match?
15:03Yeah, I mean, you, you picture all of that.
15:06Um, like I said, I mean, it would be, it would be a special moment.
15:12Um, not just for myself, for the team, but also people back home.
15:16Um, like I said earlier, it would be nice to have it a part of, a part of the story.
15:22Um, yeah.
15:27Great.
15:28Thank you very much.
15:30Thank you very much.