'We're a lot more awesome than we are horrendous' — Conrad's warning to Proteas rivals
Shukri Conrad has issued an ominous warning to the Proteas' Test rivals that his team are not yet operating at maximum capacity.
Conrad, the South African cricket team's coach, has cautioned his rivals that the Proteas are not yet performing at their full potential. This is surprising given that the Proteas recently secured a 2-1 series victory over Australia on home soil, the second such triumph in their history after readmission to Test status. This victory has propelled the Proteas to the summit of the ICC Test rankings, and they were also crowned World Test Champions last year after winning at Lord’s.
Despite their recent success, Conrad and his team have not become complacent. The Proteas faced numerous challenges during the Australian series, often due to their own mistakes. Additionally, the batting lineup has been inconsistent, necessitating mid-series changes to address shortcomings. As a result, Conrad is hesitant to discuss a return to the World Test Championship Final at The Oval next year, especially with Bangladesh and England, both of whom are improving, set to visit South Africa later in the year.
Conrad expressed that the Proteas can be "awesome one minute and absolutely horrendous the next," but overall, they are "a lot more awesome than horrendous." He emphasized that there is still significant room for improvement, and the team's main goal is to become the best and maintain that status for an extended period. Performance consistency requires not relying solely on specific individuals to carry the team, as evidenced by the outstanding century scores from Ryan Rickelton and Wiaan Mulder during the Australian series.
Conrad believes that the Newlands decider will bolster the confidence of the entire team, particularly the batting unit, after witnessing the match-winning performances of Rickelton and Mulder. This newfound belief will permeate the entire unit, making the next series, involving Bangladesh, seem like the biggest challenge yet. Despite Bangladesh's recent success against Australia and the presence of a South African coach in their team, Conrad stressed that the next series holds significant importance for the Proteas, who must capitalize on their recent victories.
Written by urgent.news from IOL's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
