WI vs SA 2024: Shukri Conrad praises team effort with one eye on World Test Championship final
Proteas red-ball coach described the incentive of reaching the 2025 ICC World Test Championship final as the major motivation even as they continue their transition.
Despite only three squad members with an experience of over 50 Tests (Temba Bavuma, Kagiso Rabada and Keshav Maharaj) in comparison to the more experienced West Indian outfit, South Africa emerged as the winners in the hard-fought two-match Test series in the Caribbean.
Proteas red-ball coach Shukri Conrad described the incentive of reaching the 2025 ICC World Test Championship final as the major motivation even as they continue their transition.
"A big couple of months ahead of us to grow as a Test team. At the end of that, if we do very well and we win enough games, we can end up in the World Test Championship final. That's not the only goal of the team. It's also to grow as a team," stated Conrad from Guyana, as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.
He also attributed the collapses with the bat (328//6 to 357 all-out in the first Test and 224/5 to 246 all-out in the second) to the lack of exposure at the premier level in terms of red-ball expertise, and guaranteed that there would be fewer lapses in judgement and execution as the team plays more matches together.
"With young and inexperienced batters, you almost factor in that every now and again you're going to have a few aberrations with the bat. But the vital signs are there that we can go and become a really good test unit. The skillsets are there. It's really just experience we need. With experience, you'll find fewer soft dismissals and less of the falling over when bowlers bowl well and we'll be able to put up more of a fight with the bat," mentioned Conrad.
When you're transitioning, you need someone like that in your team: Conrad
Conrad also had praises left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj, who emerged as the leading wicket-taker of the series, with 13 wickets to his name. Labelling him as an "absolute workhorse" and "Mr. Reliable", he also likened a strong personality like Maharaj to be just the right individual to guide a team streaked with inexperience.
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