 "Temba Bavuma could soon become first South African captain to win a world title with the men's cricket team. Image: Reuters")
South Africa are only 69 runs away from a first world ICC title. With eight wickets in hand and Aiden Markram and Temba Bavuma batting on 102 and 65 respectively, the Proteas are heavy favourites going into the Day 4 of the World Test Championship (WTC) final against Australia at Lord’s.
However, there are questions marks over the availability of South African captain Bavuma, who played a heroic innings in the chase despite battling with a hamstring injury. Now 69 runs may not look a lot when you have eight wickets in hand, but South Africa have a history of ‘choking’ at the biggest stages and in such a scenario the team would want Bavuma to continue his unbeaten 143-runs stand with Markram at the start of Day 4.
Bavuma battles hamstring injury to slam fifty
Bavuma pulled up his hamstring just before Tea on Day 3, when he was only on 6. He received a lengthy treatment and while it impacted his running, the South African skipper led from the front as he scored a valuable unbeaten fifty for his team.
South Africa batting coach Ashwell Prince has revealed that Markram played a big role in helping Bavuma continue the batting despite him suffering the hamstring injury.
“We had to make a big call whether he continues to bat and how it will affect his strokeplay, how that might affect Aiden’s rhythm," Prince said. “If twos are being turned into one [or] they can’t run the twos or the threes. Both of them were adamant that Temba was going to continue. He wanted to continue.”
“Aiden was adamant that the partnership is the key. Obviously, had [Tristan] Stubbs gone in, we would have still had Temba’s wickets intact, but you start a new partnership. They were feeling pretty good and they wanted to continue.”
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More ShortsWill Bavuma bat on Day 4 of WTC Final?
Asked whether Bavuma will bat on Day 4, Prince hinted that there’s a strong possibility of him resuming the innings considering the importance of the occasion.
“He’s had to fight throughout his career, and this could be a defining moment for his career," Prince added. “I believe it’s the biggest stage of in terms of Test cricket. Maybe I should answer the question after the game."
South Africa have never won a world title, their only ICC trophy win so far is the inaugural edition of the Champions Trophy in 1998.