‘It feels like we’re starting all over as a team.’ – Temba Bavuma’s thoughts on South Africa’s red ball schedule

Only four red-ball matches have been played by South Africa in the World Test Championship’s third cycle. In contrast, Pakistan played five, New Zealand and the West Indies played six, Australia and England played twelve each, and India played nine. Two of the Proteas’ four games versus New Zealand were played with a subpar squad because all of their first-choice players were competing in the SA20.

The team lead by Temba Bavuma is presently ranked seventh in the WTC standings, and making it to the championship round looks like a difficult feat.

Meanwhile, the captain talked candidly about the calendar, pointing out that the players constantly feel like they are beginning over because there isn’t the same consistency in scheduling that the Big Three (Australia, England, and India) have.

The Test blueprint is being discussed by the team management, according to Bavuma, which is unusual for a team to discuss in the midst of the year. Bavuma is hopeful that things will become better in the future. In spite of all the difficulties, he continued, the players are excited to play the West Indies in a two-match series beginning on August 7.

It’s a problem that most teams outside of the top three confront, and it’s not one that only affects us. As a team, it seems like we’re always beginning over. It’s evident from the chats that we frequently have to remind ourselves of our game plan, philosophy, and general strategy for winning, according to a comment from Bavuma.

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Nothing about it makes us as a South African team stand out. Making things work with what we have is the difficulty. We don’t make light of it. I believe the lads are quite excited, and we want to give that more attention than to all the other uncontrollables,” he continued.