Temba's Test

          Temba Bavuma reached 150 after tea Associated Press
          • Andrew McGlashanOct 23, 2026, 04:23 PM
            Close
              Deputy Editor Andrew arrived at ESPNcricinfo via Manchester and Cape Town, after finding the assistant editor at a weak moment as he watched England's batting collapse in the Newlands Test. Andrew began his cricket writing as a freelance covering Lancashire during 2004 when they were relegated in the County Championship. In fact, they were top of the table when he began reporting on them but things went dramatically downhill. He likes to let people know that he is a supporter of county cricket, a fact his colleagues will testify to and bemoan in equal quantities.

          That was a turnaround. Not only did South Africa level the series having been drubbed in Durban, they did it after losing the majority of the first two days to rain. A remarkable performance.

          Temba Bavuma is an inspirational leader. That probably didn't need restating given he led his side to the World Test Championship title last year, but this week shaped as a massive moment for him and he delivered in every aspect.

          He spoke eloquently after the defeat at Kingsmead, where he had a poor match with the bat, and the same in the build-up to the second Test. After making his career-best 179 he fronted the media again and admitted to plenty of introspection between matches.

          "I think obviously when you front up to the media, you try to keep a steel face," he said. "But when you're there alone in your room, you can't kind of lie to yourself."

          The enormity of his performance hadn't sunk in as he braced his team-mates for two days in the field in their push for victory. In the end, they did it with time to spare.

          One of the defining images of the Test was Bavuma turning his back on the action when Steven Smith skied his pull off Kagiso Rabada which Matthew Breetzke needed two attempts to catch.

          "I was very nervous at that time," he said with the hint of a smile. "High catching St George's [Park] can be a bit tough, especially when the wind is blowing like that. I couldn't see who was under the catch so definitely not a case of me not having any faith in that individual.

          "It just felt like a big moment in the game. Steve Smith, you know what an important cog he is within the line-up. But also just the game itself, the clouds were coming in I think I was just kind of allowed my emotions to get the better of me there."

          Perhaps his standout remark, however, was when asked whether, outside of the WTC triumph, it was his best Test victory. "The Newlands one most probably would be, if things go according to plan," he said.

          A decider at Newlands. How good.