Proteas coach Shukri Conrad comes out swinging for his boys

WITH the World Test Championship (WTC) less than a month away, Proteas coach Shukri Conrad has come out fighting for his charges ahead of the showdown with Australia at Lord’s.

Conrad was speaking at the squad announcement of South Africa for the match, the 15-player group being led by skipper Temba Bavuma and highlighted with the inclusion of Kagiso Rabada. The fast bowler has been in the news for serving a one-month suspension for taking a prohibited recreational substance.

Conrad, though, addressed the criticism of South Africa’s passage to the WTC final. Former players like Michael Vaughan questioned the validity of SA’s place in the final because they had not played ‘big-three’ sides Australia and England in the current WTC cycle.

Though the Proteas did draw their Test series with India (the other big three side) at the beginning of the cycle, that seemed to matter little to the critics.

Conrad Underscores Equal Respect for All Opponents

Conrad suggested that the big-three description was no longer even relevant, while taking a quite deliberate swipe at that trio.

"No, I think only in their minds have they dubbed themselves the big three. I don't think anybody else has," Conrad told SportsBoom.co.za.

"We don't prepare any differently, we certainly don't respect Pakistan less than we do Australia, as we do India. Everything stays the same," said Conrad.

As for coming up against that old Aussie foe, Conrad relished the challenge.

"It's great that it's Australia because we haven't played them in a while, and it doesn't provide us with more motivation. If you're looking for more motivation, then you're probably [not] in the right state of mind anyway.

"You don't need motivation to play for South Africa; you don't need motivation to play in finals. I wouldn't have wanted it any other way. I think Australia is the one side that everybody wants to topple, but preparation won't be any different."

@Michael_Sherman