Neil McKenzie says the growing synergy between coach Shukri Conrad and captain Temba Bavuma is driving the Proteas’ belief as they chase another series win in India.
After losing the first ODI without Bavuma – who was ill – the Proteas bounced back to successfully chase 359 in Raipur on Wednesday, levelling the series 1–1 under his leadership.
The decider in Visakhapatnam on Saturday may require reinforcements, with Nandre Burger and Tony de Zorzi both suffering hamstring injuries, but McKenzie believes the squad has the depth to cope.
The Conrad–Bavuma partnership first flickered during the must-win home series against England in 2023, when their influence powered a 2–1 victory and ultimately secured qualification for the ODI World Cup.
Bavuma was later named Test captain in early 2023, and the recent 2-0 Test triumph in India added another marker of progress. He now boasts a 54% win rate in ODIs, with 26 wins from 48 matches.
“It is important to have that synergy between the coach and the captain. You want the ship moving in the same direction. Conrad and Bavuma are feeding off each other,” McKenzie told SportsBoom.co.za.
“They’re enjoying their cricket. There’s a balance of youth and experience, and they’ve created opportunities for young players across formats. A lot of youngsters are coming to the fore.”
The former Proteas batsman and batting coach said the quality of players outside the starting XI is the strongest indicator of South Africa’s depth.
“You can judge a good team by the people sitting out. The coach and captain have produced depth and quality. Some world-class performers are loving their cricket under their leadership. It looks like a happy environment, and young players are fighting for spots – which hasn’t happened for a while.”
The former international, who played alongside greats such as Jacques Kallis, Graeme Smith and AB de Villiers, added that every leadership group brings its own “flair and flavour”.
“The prized possession is the green cap, and it’s clear how much it means to this group. The performances show that.”
Photo: Matthew Lewis/ICC/Getty Images
