Ongama Gcwabe
KWENA Maphaka, 18-years-old, has been added to the Proteas Test squad ahead of the second Test match at St George's Park against Sri Lanka.
The left-arm fast bowler has replaced 24-year-old quick Gerald Coetzee, who felt discomfort in the groin area in the fourth innings of the first Test at Kingsmead Stadium last week.
Maphaka, following his figures of 3/24 and 3/54 against the Warriors in the CSA 4-Day Series at the Wanderers last week, will potentially make his Test debut in the same ground he made his first class debut for the Lions, and in the same ground where greats of the game, including Dale Steyn, earned their first Test caps.
This is a move that Test coach Shukri Conrad was forced to make, given that more experienced quicks Lungi Ngidi and Nandre Burger are out this summer due to injuries. Alongside Maphaka, capped Test batter Matthew Breetzke has been included in the squad as a replacement for the injured Wiaan Mulder.
In about five weeks, South Africa will certainly know whether or not they will travel to London next winter to challenge for the World Test Championship (WTC) title in the final at Lord's. Last week, the team's 233-run victory over Sri Lanka in the first Test at Kingsmead was a step in the right direction, a step that saw the side move up three spots in the WTC standings to find themselves sitting in second place behind India.
Three more Tests remain in the summer, starting with this week's second and final Test of the series against Sri Lanka in Gqeberha. South Africa are now a genuine contender for a spot in the final, a feat that most couldn't have scripted when Conrad took over as head coach.
Certainly, when the 57-year-old named Tristan Stubbs as the Test N o 3 batter with only 17 First-Class matches under his belt, most doubted. Or when Temba Bavuma was named captain, Tony de Zorzi the new opening batter, or when Aiden Markram was recalled to be his opening partner.
However, the coach's decisions have paid off. Apart from the series loss in New Zealand, when a second-string team toured due to the unavailability of the main players, Conrad is yet to lose a series with his full-strength squad.
In fact, they have lost only one match, the one played on the freakishly uncharacteristic Newlands earlier this year. Reflecting on their journey as a team, Conrad points out the camaraderie in the team as the main ingredient behind the team's success in the ongoing championship.
"You do you and be you, we'll make this whole thing work," said Conrad.
"They are just a great bunch that gets on with it, train hard, and enjoy each other's company away from the cricket field. Nothing is artificial; they are a very authentic group in terms of their personalities. It's something that we encourage as well."
What has been remarkable about their journey is how, despite unfairly playing significantly fewer Tests as compared to the big three - India, England and Australia - they have been able to get results.
This whole year, South Africa has played five Tests, and by the end of it, they would have played only seven Tests. However, they just get on with things.
"I think we just get on with things is what we've tried to establish," said Conrad, explaining what has made his team successful.
"What we continually encourage is for guys to be themselves both on and off the field. Winning obviously helps. Let's not undervalue that.
"At the end of the day, we get judged on cricket results and performances and not the types of characters we are. A great bunch of guys that are very talented as well. Hopefully, they can continue to deliver the results."