‘There are one or two things that will make us the best version’ – Shukri Conrad urges South Africa to improve further after Australia series triumph

South Africa secured a 2-1 victory over Australia in their home Test series, with the decisive third Test concluded at Newlands in Cape Town on October 31.

Head coach Shukri Conrad addressed the media following the series conclusion, reflecting on both the achievement and the areas requiring refinement. Despite the success, Conrad emphasised that his squad remains a work in progress and that further development is essential for sustained excellence.

“I still think there are one or two things that will make us the best version. But my gosh, I wouldn’t have thought this a couple of days ago that we’d stand here. In the same breath, I’m also not surprised because that lot have it in them to do amazing things,” Conrad said as quoted by ICC.

How is Conrad approaching squad selection and player development?

The series presented contrasting challenges across three Tests. South Africa suffered a 214-run defeat in Durban, but recovered from a precarious position of 40 for 4 in Gqeberha to secure an innings victory by 31 runs. At Cape Town, the Proteas conceded a 100-run lead before setting Australia a target of 388, ultimately winning by 176 runs to claim the series.

Conrad’s approach to squad composition reflects his commitment to finding the optimal balance for winning individual Tests and series. The head coach has been rotating his selection strategically, providing emerging talents with opportunities to develop their skills at the highest level during the Australia assignment.

Conrad explained his philosophy on squad management and player development, emphasising the need for flexibility from his players as they adapt to Test cricket’s demands.

“We’re getting the best XI on the bus. We’ve just got to find the right seats for them. The important bit is that very often you need to be quite malleable as a player also. You take Marques, for example, who’s come in and taken (to Test cricket) like a duck to water. He’s still going to mess things up because of the way he plays, but he is a character that I don’t want to stymie in any way,” Conrad said.

What lies ahead for South Africa in the coming months?

The Proteas face a demanding schedule ahead, beginning with Bangladesh’s visit for a two-match home series. England will follow with a three-match assignment, and Sri Lanka will provide two additional fixtures. Conrad stressed the importance of maintaining momentum and extracting lessons from the Australia series as South Africa prepares for these contests.

“Every Test series becomes the biggest Test series and the next Test series is the biggest Test series of the summer,” Conrad said.

Under Conrad’s leadership, South Africa has built a formidable Test record. The Proteas claimed the 2023-2025 World Test Championship title and have lost only one of the ten Test series Conrad has overseen, that defeat occurring against New Zealand in 2024. The Australia victory marked another significant milestone, with South Africa achieving successive home Test series wins over Australia for the first time since the country’s readmission to international cricket.