South Africa red-ball coach Shukri Conrad is not giving much thought to the team’s route to the 2023-25 ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final but admitted that their schedule was relatively easy compared to other teams.
South Africa secured their place in the WTC final for the first time with a thrilling two-wicket victory over Pakistan in the first Test at Centurion on December 29, 2024. However, the structure of South Africa’s WTC cycle caught everyone’s attention. after his WTC finale. 2025.
South Africa coach Shukri Conrad unfazed by criticism over easy route to 2025 WTC final
With only 12 Test matches on the schedule, none of South Africa’s red-ball series extended beyond two matches, which greatly helped them in many cases qualify for the 2025 WTC final. The team’s toughest challenges of Proteas were against India at home and New Zealand. Zeeland drifted away, but they sailed them without much trouble.
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But the rest of their WTC matches were against lower-ranked teams like Bangladesh, West Indies and Pakistan, giving the South African cricket team an easier route to the final. Even they played their recent Test series against Sri Lanka at home, sweeping them 2-0, further strengthening their WTC final chances ahead of the ongoing Test series against Pakistan.
Unlike other teams, the South African team did not face major powers like Australia and England or daunting tours of the subcontinent, except for a short series in Bangladesh. Following their qualification for the 2025 WTC final, some feel South Africa’s path to the summit clash lacked the level of challenge other teams faced, but Shukri Conrad remains unfazed.
I’m not going to apologize: Shukri Conrad
The South African coach has insisted that they made the most of the opportunities presented to them, so there is nothing like apologizing for taking advantage of a favorable schedule. Responding to critics, Conrad insisted the Proteas deserve their place in the WTC final. The coach also said that being an underdog sometimes makes things easier.
Shukri Conrad was quoted by The Roar as saying: “We are delighted to be able to be at Lord’s next year. People abroad will shout that we had an easy draw. Well, I’m not going to apologize for that. I think the good thing about getting the results at home is that you play as a favorite. “It’s easy to play like a loser because you’re not expected to.”
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Previously, former England captain Michael Vaughan criticized the WTC structure, highlighting how the South African team had a much easier schedule compared to other teams. For example, England played 22 matches, almost double that of the Proteas, and faced harsh penalties for speeding and once again failed to reach the 2025 WTC final.
They reached the final without beating almost anyone: Michael Vaughan
According to The Roar, Michael Vaughan told Fox Cricket: “If you look at South Africa, they got to the final without beating almost anyone. I don’t understand the table; I don’t understand the system we have.
“They’ve beaten Pakistan at home and Sri Lanka at home. I’m not against South Africa but the system has allowed them to get to the final, they drew 1-1 against India at home and they didn’t do it.” I didn’t play against England or Australia; “I just don’t like the system.”
