World Test Championship:<\/b> South Africa captain Temba Bavuma expects another fiercely contested battle against Australia when the two sides begin their Test series in Durban on Friday, with the Proteas looking to build on their World Test Championship triumph.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
South Africa defeated Australia in the 2025 WTC Final at Lord\u2019s to claim the title and will now face the reigning world champions in a home series as they look to strengthen their position in the 2025-27 WTC cycle.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Bavuma believes the rivalry brings out the competitive edge in both teams and expects another intense contest.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cWhen you play against Australia, you don\u2019t just play against those individuals; you play against what it means to be Australian. It\u2019s always a clash we look forward to. It tends to at least bring out the competitive edge of both teams. We have a strong desire to get the better of them,\u201d Bavuma told Cricinfo. \u201cWe give them a lot of respect, but we also take confidence in that we\u2019ve been able to get the better of them. The respect lies in the fact that they\u2019ve been very dominant over the years,\u201d he added.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
South Africa\u2019s memorable WTC final victory came after they overcame a 74-run first-innings deficit, with Aiden Markram and Kagiso Rabada playing key roles in securing the title.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Bavuma, who battled an injury during the final, said the team has developed the resilience required to remain competitive even when faced with difficult circumstances.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The Proteas have also strengthened their pace attack for the Australia series, with Anrich Nortje returning to Test cricket after more than three years and Gerald Coetzee making his comeback after a two-year absence. They will join Corbin Bosch and Marco Jansen in the squad. \u201cPart of it is bringing back the aspect of fast bowlers. Countries or players must know when they come into South Africa, they\u2019re going to deal with fast bowling,\u201d Bavuma said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The captain believes the upcoming season could prove particularly important for South Africa, with the team set to face Australia, England and other major challenges ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup on home soil.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cEvery season always feels like a big season, and maybe this one feels a little bit more. I wouldn\u2019t want to put too much pressure on myself to say or define who I am as a cricketer. I\u2019ve had over ten years of international cricket, and you\u2019d hate to think that one moment will dictate everything about it,\u201d he said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cBut this year we\u2019ve got the opportunity to play against the big three teams, and, from a competitive point of view, that\u2019s definitely going to get us going. We want to see ourselves on the right side of the result,\u201d Bavuma added.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The South Africa skipper also acknowledged that Australia remain a formidable opponent despite changes in their approach. \u201cThey\u2019re not as in-your-face. They still play their cricket hard. They\u2019ve still got guys like Travis Head at the top, who look to put you under pressure. And then they still have that quartet of a bowling attack always putting you under pressure,\u201d he said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cBut they\u2019re probably not as brash and in your face as I think of 2016, when we toured Australia. They made you feel uncomfortable. From a cricketing point of view, they haven\u2019t lost a great deal. It\u2019s still as tough as Australia that we know,\u201d he added.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The South Africa skipper also acknowledged that Australia remain a formidable opponent despite changes in their approach. \u201cThey\u2019re not as in-your-face. They still play their cricket hard. They\u2019ve still got guys like Travis Head at the top, who look to put you under pressure. And then they still have that quartet of a bowling attack always putting you under pressure,\u201d he said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Also Read: <\/b> Special Cricket Stories<\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n