Exclusive: From Injuries to Excellence, Temba Bavuma Leading the Proteas to New Heights

Toughness is synonymous with South Africans. Across all sporting codes, be it rugby, cricket or MMA, toughness is what really sets South African athletes apart.

Having suffered various injuries over the last year, Temba Bavuma, the Proteas Test captain, finally returned from injury in the recently concluded series against Sri Lanka having missed the all-important two-match trip to Bangladesh in October.

Bavuma's Return to Test Cricket

Strapped up with bandages in both arms, Bavuma made his return in gloomy skies in the first innings of the first Test at Kingsmead Stadium last month.

Having last batted in Test cricket in the West Indies in August, Bavuma walked in to bat with South Africa in trouble with the score reading 2/14.

Despite the bowler-friendly conditions and lack of game time, the 34-year-old scored 70 off 117, a knock that reminded the world of his class and ability to absorb pressure. 

The batter went on to score 113 in the second innings and led South Africa to victory in the first Test in Durban.

The batter would go on to score 78 and 66 in the second Test at St George's Park Cricket Stadium and thus won the Player of the Series award for his tally of 327 runs at an average of 82.

"People are speaking about us and what we're achieving"

In an exclusive interview with SportsBoom, the captain emphasised his relief having gone through the series without any physical issues.

"A lot of relief, to be honest, the fact that I could go through the entire series unscathed from a physical point of view. I was quite wary," Bavuma told SportsBoom.

"I had a bit of fear that something could happen to me again physically so the fact that I came out on the other side intact, gave me a lot of relief and put a smile on my face.

"I had luck on my side, if I look at Day one in Durban, there were tough batting conditions and I got given a lifeline early on in my innings and I was able to make use of it and contribute to us getting a competitive score when it was tough for us in that first innings."

Having gone through all the injuries, Bavuma told SportsBoom that his performances further instilled self-belief and confidence in his abilities.

"The hundred, people around me say it was probably the best hundred I've scored. I guess again it instils a lot of belief and confidence in myself considering the fact that I came from an injury, spent a lot of time on the bench, and there was not a lot of training that I could do from a skill point of view," he said.

"(Before the series) it was all about rehab, just trying to get the body to a space where I could be confident and be out on the field. (My performances in the series) strengthened the belief that I have in myself. I take a lot of joy, satisfaction and confidence from it."

Boxing Day Showdown 

Having led South Africa to a series sweep at home against Sri Lanka, Bavuma's team currently sits at the top of the World Test Championship standings with Australia and India sitting in second and third place respectively.

The Proteas now need only one more victory to secure a spot in the final at Lord's next year and with two more matches left in the summer, they have a very good chance.

They will take on Pakistan in the Boxing Day Test in Centurion before playing their last match of the cycle from 03 to 07 January in Cape Town against the same subcontinent team.

Bavuma told SportsBoom that the Test team is in a happy space.

"From the team's perspective, I think we are taking massive strides as a team. The team is growing each day and each series," said Bavuma.

"I think we've gotten people speaking about us as a team and what we are achieving. We are super happy, there's good energy within the group, a lot of excitement bubbling and quite a lot of calmness surfacing amongst the guys. It is a happy environment at the moment and winning does that."

Sri Lanka make up the fourth team that still have a chance of making the World Test Championship final and given that they host Sri Lanka in Galle next year, they could face South Africa in London next year.