Image source: Africa Facts Zone
When one refers to the word sizzling, there are two interpretations that come to mind.
The first being about the sizzling weather with the scorching heat and rising humidity and the other about one’s form which is sizzling with confidence, soaring to unparalleled peaks.
Well, the powerhouse of Africa in the Proteas, have embraced both the interpretations of the word sizzling recently with outclassing and outperforming Bangladesh in their own den amid the roasting heat which the men from the Mzansi are perhaps not habituated to.
Such has been their performance with scintillating sureness, that after beating the Bangla Tigers by seven wickets in the first Test, they ascended even further by annihilating the hosts by an innings and 273 runs in the second.
And this away from home, with players who are not used to subcontinental conditions amidst a transitioning team which most pundits love to label South Africa as.
With this being said, for me, they are just a bunch of young chaps with mountains of self-assuredness, marching on a mission to win in the subcontinent and correct the wrongs of the past under the astute tutelage of stand-in captain Aiden Markram.
Ask the likes of Kagiso Rabada, Kyle Verreynne, Tony de Zorzi, Tristan Stubbs and Wiaan Mulder and they will whole-heartedly agree.
This after South Africa had failed to win a Test match in Asia for the last 10 years, let alone a series.
Yes, let this sink in.
So as South Africa conquered yet another insurmountable feat, let’s look at how the Proteas went about doing so:
Kagiso Rabada, the mighty fine pacer demolishes Bangladesh enroute to 300 Test wickets
There are few pacers in world cricket that have the guile, resilience and the mindset to knock oppositions over as Kagiso Rabada has.
For almost a decade, he has been South Africa’s lynchpin when it comes to shooting away batters with those lethal deliveries and this is precisely what the Bangla stroke players witnessed both in Mirpur and Chattogram.
Yes, they were caught behind, their stumps castled as well as falling prey to leg before wicket as this tall pacer topped the wickets chart with 14 cherries to his name enroute to reaching the enviable landmark of 300 Test wickets.
With this performance he also ascended to becoming the number one bowler in Tests, displacing Australia’s Josh Hazlewood.
As KG thrived in the limelight, the man from Johannesburg wasn’t alone in burning Bangladesh to the ground as he wasably supported by Keshav Maharaj who finished the second highest wicket taker in the series with 13 scalps to his name.
His ability to outfox the batters was evident as the Bangla Tigers were left all at sea.
Young Proteas come to the party
After almost half a decade, the world witnessed various young South African batters come to the party mounting hundreds with consummate ease like they have belonged at the Test level since time immemorial.
Kyle Verreynne was the initiator of this refreshing phenomenon as he mounted his second ton in the five-day format in a crucial partnership with Wiaan Mulder in the first Test that saw South Africa thrash Bangladesh comfortably at Mirpur.
When the carnival moved to Chattogram, Tony de Zorzi and Tristan Stubbs along with Wiaan Mulder were instrumental in the Proteas making a massive 575 runs batting first which was enough to knock Bangladesh over twice as the three youngsters soared to their maiden three figure mark.
Such was their class and ability to adapt to alien conditions that their nation piled up this mountain of runs for the first time in nearly a decade which speaks volumes of how South Africa have furthered their cause with the willow.
Credit needs to also be showered on batting coach, Ashwell Prince who has worked with these youngsters to give them the freedom and confidence to express themselves.
One would sincerely hope this form continues as after almost an eternity; the Proteas look pretty solid in their Test whites as a complete batting unit.
The World Test Championship final looks well in sight
When one has motivation galore to prove their mettle, success is always bound to become etched in their soul.
Well for South Africa this motivation has come rather unexpectedly in the form of the World Test Championship final at Lords mid next year which increasingly looks more than a possibility.
Having conquered Bangladesh successfully away from home, the Proteas simply need to win their next four matches against Sri Lanka and Pakistan in their own backyard and a final of this revered championship is theirs for the taking.
Neither India nor Australia can reach the percentage points that South Africa would accumulate if they win their next four games. This makes it even more interesting as the Proteas have their fate in their hands to ascend to the final.
If they do, it surely would be a momentous occasion not only for me as a die-hard Mzansi faithful but also for the other 64 million strong supporters who undoubtedly would want to paint the ‘Home of Cricket’ green and gold come next June.
The die-hard Protea fan would, without much doubt, say the following, don’t you think:
“Keep marching ahead my dear Proteas as when you shine, it makes our lives meaningful!”
