WTC final: SA skipper Temba Bavuma fires pre-match salvo at Australia

South Africa is all ready to clash against Australia for the upcoming World Test Championship (WTC) final. Ahead of the title clash, Proteas` skipper Temba Bavuma opened up on his performances in the longest format of the game in the last five years.

“If I look at the last four or five years in Test cricket, I think I`ve been more than a solid performer. I`ve probably scored the most runs within the team. My average has been up there,” Bavuma told ESPNcricinfo.

Since December 2019, Bavuma has emerged as South Africa`s highest run-scorer in Test cricket, with an average of close to 50. The right-hander has also rolled up his sleeves to lead the `Rainbow Nation` in the highly anticipated title clash.

The 35-year-old has amassed 1,794 runs in 24 matches with an average of 48.48 and a strike rate of 50. He also has three tons and 11 half-centuries.

“I try not to live off what the hype is out there. If the stats are telling a different story to what people are saying, then why should I really worry about people who are trying to find things that aren`t really there? Maybe the difference now is that I`ve started to score 100-plus scores, and that`s probably given a lot more confidence to people,” said the South African skipper.

Currently, Bavuma is placed in the sixth position of the ICC Test rankings, which indicates his consistency and a rich vein of form.

“But in terms of actual run-scoring, I`ve been doing it for the last four to five years. I find myself in the ICC`s top ten – that doesn`t happen over a space of six months, so I`ve obviously grown as a batter, I`ve grown as a player, as well as a leader,” said the veteran of 63 Test matches.

Stressing on the importance of experiences over statistics in his career, the Langa-born said, “My career has been an incredible one for me, not from a statistical point of view, but from the experiences I`ve had. With all the things I`ve gone through, all the things I`ve managed to overcome, you almost get to a point where you feel like it can`t get any worse.”

Pat Cummins-led Australia will aim to retain their WTC mace, which in return will help them become the first-ever team to do so.

WTC final: Squads

South Africa squad: Tony de Zorzi, Ryan Rickelton, Aiden Markram, Temba Bavuma (c), David Bedingham, Tristan Stubbs, Kyle Verreynne, Wiaan Mulder, Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, Dane Paterson, Keshav Maharaj, Senuran Muthusamy.

Australia squad: Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Alex Carey, Josh Inglis, Cameron Green, Beau Webster, Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Scott Boland, Nathan Lyon, Matt Kuhnemann. Travelling reserve: Brendan Doggett.

(With ANI Inputs)

This article first appeared on Mid Day