'Wouldn't want anyone else to be captaining us' - Shukri Conrad praises Temba Bavuma's contribution as team player

South Africa has been in some stunning red-ball form of late. At the moment, they stand atop the points table of the 2023-25 cycle of the World Test Championship. Under the charismatic captaincy of Temba Bavuma, the side has yet to lose a game this cycle. Out of the nine games he has led out of the 12 in the third edition of the WTC, South Africa ended up with eight victories. 

Head coach of the red-ball setup, Shukri Conrad, applauded how Bavuma had led the way with the bat. 

"He's played unbelievably well this summer, and full marks to him. I think any captain who wants to lead from the front, they want to lead through performance as well, and that's what Temba's done exceptionally well," shared Conrad on SuperSport's television coverage after the recently concluded Test series against Pakistan.

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I wouldn't want anyone else to be captaining us: Conrad

Conrad, who was appointed to the role in February 2023, admitted to the fact that he had not seen Bavuma in the form he currently possesses on any prior occasion.   

"He's not lost a game as captain of South Africa (winning eight out of nine Tests). Leading from the front, turning out the performances he's had, he's probably in the form of his life. I haven't seen him play any better, and that obviously gives you a lot of confidence when you're captaining as well. I wouldn't want anyone else to be captaining us," he added.

The schedule for South Africa's summer included a Test series against Sri Lanka and then Pakistan. Bavuma has registered a total of 504 runs in the five innings he has featured in against the aforementioned Asian sides. This includes centuries in Durban and Cape Town. With the Proteas narrowly missing out on closing out their drought for an ICC title last year during the Men's T20 World Cup, they would be aiming to leave no stone unturned in a bid to upset the mighty Aussies.