Shukri Conrad’s team selections have seen the Proteas Test side soar as WTC qualification beckons

Tristan Stubbs in action on 11 August during the first Test match between West Indies and South Africa at Queen’s Park Oval in Port of Spain in Trinidad and Tobago. Photo: Daniel Prentice/Gallo Images/Getty Images

By Keanan Hemmonsbey

8 Dec 2024

Before the red-ball coach joined it was unthinkable that the team might end up in a World Test Championship final. Now it could be true.

Proteas red-ball coach Shukri Conrad has completely revolutionised the team since taking over at the start of 2023. Conrad was handed a stumbling team with a threatening bowling attack but stuttering batters, and has managed to turn the squad into a red-ball force on the verge of qualifying for the World Test Championship final.

His brave but sometimes unpopular decisions have resulted in the team growing into one that has ticked off several firsts.

Before Conrad took over the Proteas had won only one of their four previous series, which included consecutive defeats to England and Australia away. The win came against Bangladesh at home.

Since taking the stewardship South Africa’s only series defeat was to the Black Caps when a severely depleted Proteas side was sent to New Zealand and was crushed 2-0.

Read more: Proteas’ struggle for ‘balance’ and success in white-ball cricket continues outside of World Cups

When Conrad and Rob Walter were appointed as red-ball and white-ball coach, respectively, it was the first time the coaching control had been split. The responsibility of selecting their squads was left to them too: convenor of selectors Victor Mpitsang and independent selector Patrick Moroney were released from their positions and the coaches given all the power.

It has meant that when selection blunders are made, the coaches’ heads are on the chopping block, something Conrad has embraced so long as he is allowed to choose the team he prefers. And the changes came immediately.

Replacing and nurturing

After Mark Boucher stepped down as the all-format coach of the national side following the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia, Malibongwe Maketa was given the lead role on an interim basis for the three-match series against Australia.

Conrad came on board after the 2-0 series loss. He took out and replaced what wasn’t working and kept and nurtured what was from the side that had toured Australia.

South Africa’s biggest problem at the time was the lack of runs from the batters. Every out-and-out batter who took part in the series against Australia – bar Temba Bavuma – has since been replaced.

Sarel Erwee, Dean Elgar, Khaya Zondo, Theunis de Bruyn, Heinrich Klaasen and Rassie van der Dussen each had a shot at batting in the top five on that tour. None of them, bar Elgar and Klaasen, played another Test match for the country once Conrad took over. Elgar, however, was relieved of the captaincy and it was handed to Bavuma.

Aiden Markram, who had been in the Test cricket wilderness at the time, was immediately recalled for the Test series against West Indies. Conrad brought the stylish batter back to the top of the order and dubbed Markram “the best opener in the country”.

Elgar only played two more series for South Africa – against West Indies and his final series against India at the end of 2023. He claimed that his 86-cap Test career was cut short by Conrad’s quest to build his own side and a new culture.

Tony de Zorzi, who was brought in by Conrad and came in at No 3 in his first few Test innings, replaced Elgar alongside Markram.

Bavuma’s batting form has also shot through the roof since being given the skipper reins and playing under Conrad. In his first eight years of Test cricket, he scored one Test century. In the next two, he added a further two. He has also broken into the top 10 of the International Cricket Council batting rankings for the first time in his career.

Surprise decisions

Conrad’s biggest surprise inclusion in the batting line-up was perhaps that of Tristan Stubbs, then 23 years old, at first drop against India in the second Test at Newlands at the start of the year.

It was a forgettable debut for Stubbs, who was dismissed twice on the first day for three and one in a match that only lasted two days. But he has gone on to establish himself as a reliable source of runs, scoring two Test centuries in 2024 so far.

Conrad also fetched David Bedingham, who had taken a few steps towards representing England at international level, to shore up the middle-order.

The batting line-up has since been extended with Wiaan Mulder earning Conrad’s trust as the No 7 batter and second all-rounder in the side alongside Marco Jansen.

Each batter that Conrad has chosen has rewarded the coach with at least one international century during his time in charge. In South Africa’s previous six Test matches – before the second Test against Sri Lanka – there were six centuries.

Not every decision Conrad made has been a success. Kyle Verreynne was dropped from his first squad to take on the West Indies and the gloves were given to Klaasen. This call came despite Verreynne being the second-highest run getter, behind Bavuma, in South Africa’s unsuccessful toil in Australia.

Klaasen failed to score more than 20 in either of the four innings in South Africa’s comfortable 2-0 series win. Verreynne was promptly recalled for South Africa’s next series and has made the wicketkeeper-batter role his own. Klaasen, meanwhile, has retired from the format and found his home as one of the most destructive white-ball batters in the world.

Shukri Proteas Tristan Stubbs in action during the first Test between West Indies and South Africa at Queen’s Park Oval in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, on 11 August 2024. (Photo: Daniel Prentice / Gallo Images / Getty Images)

Bowling changes

Conrad has made changes to his bowling line-up as well. Lungi Ngidi was initially dropped and has since played international red ball cricket sporadically as the coach opted for raw speed instead. The loss of Anrich Nortje to serious injury also played a role in that decision.

Gerald Coetzee and Nandre Burger leapfrogged Ngidi and have been impressive in the matches they have played so far. Both have 14 Test wickets. Burger’s average is under 20 and Coetzee’s is just over 20. Their fledgling careers have been slightly curtailed by injuries, however.

Kagiso Rabada has remained the spearhead of the pace attack and led the bowlers brilliantly, while stalwart spinner Keshav Maharaj has not let the team down in years.

Conrad, as the sole selector of the Test side, has made courageous calls. For the most part they’ve worked out perfectly and seen the side soar. DM

This story first appeared in our weekly Daily Maverick 168 newspaper, which is available countrywide for R35.

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South Africa

Replacing and nurturing

Surprise decisions

Bowling changes