Proteas eager to restore status as good travellers

Ongama Gcwabe

SINCE 2022, the Proteas Test team has had very little success away home, with the series-levelling victory in New Zealand at the beginning of 2022 and the one at Lord’s in the winter of the same year being their only success away from home in the two-year period.

This is an alarming fall from grace for a team that was known for being good travellers in Test cricket before 2022.

However, with head coach Shukri Conrad and captain Temba Bavuma at the helm, the Proteas have set their sights on reclaiming that status away from home as they already proved that they are a formidable team at home when they beat the No 1 Test team in the world, India, by an innings in the Boxing Day Test.

The journey to redemption begins today as Bavuma will lead his troops in the first Test match at Queens Park Oval in Port of Spain this afternoon.

The side will be hoping that the rain stays away as the weather forecast suggests that day one and day five of the first Test might face major disruptions to play.

“In our quest of being the top team in the world, in being in that World Test Championship final, we acknowledge and understand the fact that the way we play away from home will be very important important,” Bavuma said yesterday.

“Here in this tour, that’s the biggest challenge that is upon us as this Test team – how can we be successful away from home?

“It’s a hurdle that we’d like to get over. It’s not additional pressure but to be regarded one of the top teams you have to be formidable outside of your own conditions.”

The last time South Africa lost a Test to the Windies away from home was over two decades ago and since then, the Proteas have played nine – winning six and drawing three matches – including the series sweep that South Africa completed the last time they travelled to the Caribbean three years ago.

“We take a lot of confidence from our victory (away from home) in 2021 and our victory at home (in 2023),” said Bavuma.

“There are a couple of new faces within our squad. We are cognisant of that in terms of the inexperience. But the guys have really acclimatised to Trinidad, the conditions.”

He added that “the weather looks like it’s going to be a factor”.