South Africa’s head coach, Shukri Conrad, aims to keep the spotlight away from past failures as the team gears up for the World Test Championship (WTC) final. Discussing the mental challenges faced by the squad, Conrad believes it’s vital to address historical issues at the right moment.
Reflecting on a pivotal discussion with his players during the Boxing Day Test against Pakistan, Conrad remarked, “I thought it was the opportune time to lay down that challenge. If it didn’t go our way, we had another chance in Cape Town.” Conrad made it clear: “It’s all about choosing when to have that [conversation].”
Under pressure at SuperSport Park, South Africa found themselves in a challenging position, chasing a modest target of 148 and stumbling to 19 for 3. Conrad didn’t shy away from reminding them of the “chokers” tag. But as Marco Jansen struck the winning runs, it was a statement of intent from the team to overcome past narratives.
Despite this success, the coach acknowledges that completely shedding the unwanted label will likely require an ICC trophy, perhaps an ODI World Cup victory. “We touched on it (the Boxing Day Test) briefly the other day,” said Conrad, reiterating the importance of learning from experiences.
Notably, Jansen, who struggled with nerves during the 2023 ODI World Cup semi-final, played a crucial role against Pakistan. Once plagued by anxiety, he’s making strides in managing the weight of expectation. “The sense of the occasion and the expectation weigh on them, but they’ll get better the more they’re exposed to that,” Conrad noted, applauding Jansen’s composure.
On the upcoming WTC final, Conrad mentioned, “There’s been a lot of growth… the calmness he showed towards the end in that chase against Pakistan and I think that will stand him in really good stead.”
As anticipation mounts, the coach maintains a positive outlook. “There are going to be nerves and the excitement levels are starting to ramp up. It’s a great occasion, and I’d rather be part of it than not.”
With seven players having prior experience at Lord’s, the team faces the dual challenge of handling expectations while playing at this historic venue against formidable opposition. Nevertheless, the atmosphere is one to embrace, as South Africa looks to rewrite their cricketing story.
