and his \u2018dumbfounding\u2019 Ashes reality<\/a><\/p>\nA trailblazer who became the first black South African cricketer to score a century in 2016 in a Test against England in Cape Town, he is mindful of his standing as a role model.<\/p>\n
The city whose shadow he grew up in never imagining how far he could spread his wings acknowledged this when honouring him in its civic awards for his contribution to cricket but also to connection earlier this year.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think about those days. I mean, I never pictured myself playing here at Lord\u2019s. I could only fantasise about it,\u201d he said after the famous triumph. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt really was unreachable for us. Being captain, that was never a dream of mine. And now to have this opportunity, now, to be in this position where you know you\u2019ve won the (WTC) mace for the country, I don\u2019t think you can really write those types of stories. That\u2019s for the man above. <\/p>\n
\u201cI think for me, it was always about just the passion of the game. That\u2019s been my biggest thing, that\u2019s been my biggest driver. And I hope I can inspire a lot of people, not just in our country, but all the other nations as well.\u201d<\/p>\n
Head hits back at critics | 00:47<\/p>\n
A FORMIDABLE RECORD<\/p>\n
As Bavuma prepares to lead South Africa in a three Test series against its greatest rival beginning in Durban today, he has the respect of Australia.<\/p>\n
Not too long ago South Africa, with its finances filled by gambling sponsorships and a burgeoning T20 league, appeared to have moved on from Test cricket when sending a third-string team to New Zealand for a series.<\/p>\n
But under the stewardship of Bavuma and coach Shukri Conrad, the Proteas orchestrated a phenomenal turnaround in the most recent World Test Championship cycle. <\/p>\n
Some criticised the presence of South Africa in the WTC decider, stating they had followed an easier path, but they did complete a sweep against India and then upstaged the Australians when enjoying the best of the conditions.<\/p>\n
Bavuma\u2019s captaincy record does not lie. The South Africans have won 11 of the 12 Tests during his reign and are ranked second behind the Australians as leading nations vie for a spot in next year\u2019s WTC decider at The Oval.<\/p>\n
LONDON, ENGLAND – JUNE 14: Temba Bavuma of South Africa celebrates with the trophy during day 4 of the ICC World Test Championship, final match between South Africa and Australia at Lords Cricket Ground on June 14, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Paul Harding\/Gallo Images\/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n
The Aussies note that they know little about Bavuma outside of what they have seen on the field, in part because he is not a franchise cricketer and does not play in the Indian Premier League, which tends to melt boundaries.<\/p>\n
But Josh Hazlewood, the superb Australian fast bowler, has played a significant amount of Test cricket against Bavuma over the past decade and respects what he has done for South African cricket.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s been captain for a little bit now as well, but he\u2019s a little bit of an unknown character, I guess. We don\u2019t see much of him,\u201d he told foxsports.com.au. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe don\u2019t see him in franchise cricket, as opposed to your Marco Jansens, (Kagiso) Rabadas, the guys who play franchise cricket. You get to know them when they are on your team. But Temba is someone that goes under the radar a bit.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bavuma goes BIG in 2nd ODI vs Aus | 03:54<\/p>\n
STEPPING UP WHEN IT COUNTS<\/p>\n
While Bavuma has only made four Test centuries in 66 appearances and averages 38 with the bat, Hazlewood said the South African skipper had the happy trait of stepping up for his nation when they needed him the most.<\/p>\n
The thrilling decider at Lord\u2019s last year, which culminated in a wonderful celebration for the victorious team as success-starved South African fans celebrated with glee at the home of cricket, was a case in point. <\/p>\n
In a low-scoring match, Bavuma contributed in both innings and scored more than a quarter of the 402 runs his nation needed to secure a five-wicket win.<\/p>\n
\u201cI feel like when he gets runs, it\u2019s always the hardest part,\u201d Hazlewood said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt might be a green wicket when you\u2019ve got them two or three for not many and he comes in and gets that 60 that\u2019s not convincing, it\u2019s not pretty, but it gets it done. I think that\u2019s a real trait that you need in your team. You need one guy like that, (someone) who makes a difference in a low-scoring game.\u201d<\/p>\n
South Africa’s captain Temba Bavuma hugs head coach Shukri Conrad after a win over India in Kolkata. (Photo by DIBYANGSHU SARKAR \/ AFP) \/ — IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE – STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE –Source: AFP<\/p>\n
Delivering when it matters is a crucial trait for any batsman, Australian great Greg Chappell said, and carries more weight than simply an average alone.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat is not a bad thing. I mean, I played with Redders (Ian Redpath) and that was Redders,\u201d Chappell said. <\/p>\n
\u201cWhen you thought he should have got runs, he didn\u2019t get runs. And then you play on a wicket that was just hard work, and Redders had made runs.<\/p>\n
\u201cBavuma, he\u2019s a mystery man, really. But his record, he\u2019s just got better and better as he\u2019s gone along. <\/p>\n
\u201cHe didn\u2019t look anything special when he started but he\u2019s just kept growing \u2026 (and) what I just keep seeing is that he is still playing and he\u2019s making runs, and he\u2019s actually got better and better as the years have gone on. So, he\u2019s got something.\u201d<\/p>\n
That something is toughness according to Ashwell Prince, the former South African star who was at Lord\u2019s last year as an assistant coach.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe has had to fight throughout his career and this could be a defining moment for his career, I believe. It is the biggest stage in terms of Test cricket,\u201d Prince said.<\/p>\n
Maharaj in tears after historic win | 01:39<\/p>\n
CONNECTING A COLLECTIVE<\/p>\n
Toughness at the crease aside, creating harmony among a team where Kagiso Rabada is the standout talent is the reason South Africa has been shining on the Test stage.<\/p>\n
To their great lament they do not play enough Test cricket, with the series against Australia their first at home since the brilliant triumph 16 months ago. <\/p>\n
But when they do, Bavuma has them humming according to opener Prince, noting that while former sides have been studded with stars, this Proteas unit works together extremely well.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think this team\u2019s greatest strength is the unity they have in this camp,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n
\u201cThey are well aware that South Africa have had much greater individual players but they have got something special going on up in that dressing room. That helps them to drag each other along.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bavuma prefers to lead as a collective, allowing others within the side to flourish or take ownership of certain areas of the team.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think leading through a collective, identifying guys within the team and allowing them to lead within their space (is important),\u201d he said. <\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s something I think that has allowed me to be a lot more successful as a batter but yeah, I\u2019m not a big talker. I\u2019m more about action.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor me, it\u2019s always about the team, doing what I think is best for the team, and also wanting to be the guy for the team, I think, in times where there\u2019s pressure, where you can make a decision, where you\u2019re kind of giving another one the opportunity. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s easy to do that in pressure moments, but it takes a certain level of courage to be able to look past what you\u2019re feeling physically, and still try to find a way to get the job done.\u201d<\/p>\n
Temba Bavuma pictured before a white ball series in Cairns last year. Picture: Brendan RadkeSource: News Corp Australia<\/p>\n
Hazlewood says his observations stem simply from playing against South Africa under Bavuma, but has no doubt they present as a well-rounded team under the veteran.<\/p>\n
\u201c(With his) captaincy and not knowing much about him, but from an outsider\u2019s point of view, I guess that they won the WTC last time and I feel like it\u2019s very much a team now in South Africa,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n
\u201cI obviously can\u2019t comment on the past and I haven\u2019t been inside their rooms, but that\u2019s how it looks from the outside. They look as though they\u2019re moving forward as a whole. <\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know whether he\u2019s had much to do with that, but I assume so (with him) being the captain, and that\u2019s sort of I think probably his strengths there.\u201d<\/p>\n
Former captain Dean Elgar was succeeded by Bavuma<\/a> and told Fox Cricket\u2019s podcast The Follow On recently that the incumbent\u2019s \u201crecord speaks for itself at the moment\u201d.<\/p>\n\u201cHe\u2019s someone that maybe takes it all in his stride at the moment,\u201d Elgar said. <\/p>\n
\u201cHe doesn\u2019t look too far ahead, which I think is a great strength of his. I think he\u2019s also become a much better batter by taking on the role (and) I think he\u2019s got a lot more support than what I had when I was captain. <\/p>\n
\u201cBut I think he\u2019s done brilliantly really. You can\u2019t be critical of what\u2019s happened. I mean, we\u2019re the world number one and you have got to give him massive credit for that leading (into) the series against the Aussies now.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dean Elgar opens up on storied career | 32:55<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"As Temba Bavuma was assessing South African cricket\u2019s finest triumph at Lord\u2019s a year ago, he paused before…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":921452,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[564],"tags":[64,63,740,85],"class_list":["post-921451","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-cricket","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-cricket","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/921451","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=921451"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/921451\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/921452"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=921451"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=921451"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=921451"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
![](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/1791521531_67_poster-fallback.png\"\/)
<\/p>\n