David Bedingham scored twin centuries for the Western Province Cobras against the Dolphins at Newlands on September 20, 2026, hitting 129 in the first innings and 114 in the second to drive a 44-run victory. The 32-year-old also passed 10,000 first-class runs during the match, reaching the milestone on September 19, 2026.
Bedingham, who has played 15 Tests for South Africa, was omitted from Proteas squads for tours to Pakistan and India at the back end of 2025. Speaking after the match, he made clear his desire to return to the Test arena. Proteas head coach Shukri Conrad was present to watch Bedingham’s first-innings 129 at Newlands, and the two had met for a coffee a couple of months earlier. Bedingham reflected on that conversation, saying:
“I had a coffee with Shuks [Shukri Conrad] maybe a couple of months ago, and I said, regardless of what happens, as a schoolboy, I would have taken one Test, so to be able to play 15 is special. I’m still hungry. I still feel I can do well,” Bedingham told IOL.
How did Bedingham rebuild his game ahead of this season?
Bedingham spent the northern hemisphere summer playing county cricket for Durham, where former Proteas batting coach Dale Benkenstein serves as his mentor and team batting consultant. He struck 1,029 runs for Durham during that stint, helping the club earn promotion back to Division 1 for next season. Benkenstein’s influence on Bedingham’s batting has been significant. Bedingham described the work they did together, with technical adjustments centred on simplifying his approach at the crease.
“He’s done my game wonders and just cleared up my mind massively. I wasn’t happy with — I mean, you can never guarantee runs — but in terms of my technique, overthinking everything, I think I was quite poor last year. Technically, I changed my trigger/not trigger this whole season. But he just says, as long as you’re watching the ball and not thinking about anything else but that red ball, I think then you’re in a good spot,” Bedingham said.
Bedingham was also at the crease when South Africa struck the winning runs in the 2025 World Test Championship final at Lord’s, underlining the level at which he has performed for the Proteas.
Where does Bedingham fit into South Africa’s plans for the home season?
South Africa face Australia, Bangladesh and England on home soil this season, giving the national selectors several Test opportunities to consider. Bedingham has been batting at No. 3 for the WP Cobras in the first-class series, a position the Proteas have not yet settled on at international level.
Conrad’s presence at Newlands to watch Bedingham’s century suggests the selectors are monitoring his form closely ahead of those home Tests. When asked about batting at No. 3, Bedingham showed no concern about where in the order he might be asked to bat.
“If they told me to open, I’d open. If they told me to bat ten, I’d bat ten,” Bedingham said.
