‘None are champions’: South Africa coach slams India, Australia, England; dismantles ‘Big 3’ myth

Temba Bavuma-led South Africa defeated Australia in WTC final. (Photo: ICC)

Critics have not been silenced by South Africa's resounding victory in the World Test Championship at Lord's. Head coach Shukri Conrad responded forcefully to the claim that his squad had chosen a simpler path to the championship game as the Proteas arrived home to a hero's welcome at OR Tambo International Airport.

A lot of the pre-final discussion questioned the Proteas' credentials, especially from parts of the Australian and UK media. Critics cited South Africa's WTC schedule, claiming they had not defeated the "Big Three"—India, Australia, and England—enough to earn a spot in the championship match. This, even though the Proteas had already faced India during the WTC cycle.

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But Conrad had little interest in arguing about perceptions. “They create their own realities, and unfortunately, none of them are (Test) champions,” he told SportsBoom.co.za.

“We are the Test champions now, so I feel absolutely nothing about the top three. I don't believe that there is a top three.”

In addition to winning seven straight games to go to the final, South Africa defeated Australia in the WTC final to win the mace.

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South Africa never saw themselves as underdogs, even though Australia fielded veterans like Steve Smith and Nathan Lyon, both of whom have played in more than 100 Test matches. Despite their youth and seeming lack of experience, the Proteas team had faith in their abilities.

“We always felt that we belonged. We never even felt that we were underdogs in any of this. There's never a conversation that happened in any of our team talks,” said Conrad.

“Everybody dubbed Australia as the huge favourites, probably on the back of the experience more than anything else."

“I don't think we ever, ever felt that there is a big three. Only in their own minds is there a big three. We've never felt that there's a big three. We might not have played England or Australia in the build-up to the final, but we managed to play Australia in the final, and we wouldn't have wanted it any other way.”