Lungi Ngidi has all our backing, says Temba Bavuma as quick makes the WTC final squad

WHEN Proteas coach Shukri Conrad announced his squad for next month's World Test Championship final at Lord's in London, many were anticipating a few surprises as the 58-year-old has made some old calls in his time as coach.

However, Conrad only made one noticeable change from the squad that played Pakistan here at home last summer, with Lungi Ngidi replacing the young Kwena Maphaka in the side.

Many would have thought that Anrich Nortje and Gerald Coetzee would be in the squad, considering that they are back to full fitness. However, Conrad and captain Temba Bavuma believed their inclusions in the side would be too much of a risk, as they simply haven't played much red ball cricket in the ongoing cycle.

"There's a guy like Gerald, and Ana (Nortje) and I would probably put them in the same category from a concern from a fitness point of view. So I think that would be too much of a view, too much of a risk," Bavuma said in Johannesburg on Tuesday.

"Kwena as well, in terms of familiarity, I don't think he's played there in the UK. So to be throwing in a young guy like that, I think it's a big ask for him. I think Lungi gives you experience, he's played in those conditions.

"I mean, Lungi's been around. With Lungi, from what I've seen, captaining him, you kind of know what you're going to get with Lungi, whether he's played for six months, whether he hasn't played for six months. If you have a motivated, fit Lungi, you know what you're going to get. 

"I think also it being a one-off game, you kind of can get away with maybe taking a view on a guy like Lungi, who hasn't taken part within the season. But I think there's definitely, there's no massive risk, as I see it. You know what you're going to get from him; he's played there, he's one of the senior players within the team.

"So if we're going to speak plans from a bowling point of view, we're all going to sit and listen to what Lungi has to say. His selection comes with a lot of backing, it comes with a lot of confidence. I don't think anyone in that 15 will be questioning why he's there."

Fellow paceman Kagiso Rabada has also been included in the squad that is set to face Australia in the final as his suspension due to testing positive for a banned substance ended at the beginning of May.

There is a concern that the fast bowler will be under all sorts of pressure in London as the Australian media and players will most likely be on his case.

However, Bavuma believes that Rabada's previous controversies with the Australian team have given him the necessary experience to overcome whatever chirps the Aussies might throw his way.

"KG is a close friend of mine, so I would have supported him as much as he needed me to. I'm not going to dive deep into our conversation as friends, but I think from a captaincy point of view, we're happy at the process that's past us now," said Bavuma.

"I think now it's more a focus on the individual, the human, making sure that he continues to get the support that he needs and that he will be in the best state to perform the way that we know him to perform.

"He's been in situations where there's been controversy around him. If I think of Australia, here in South Africa (in 2018), we saw how that series ended. We saw how he performed as well. Maybe this one's a little bit different in terms of what's happened within his life.

"I think the biggest concern is more from a personal point of view. If there is an issue there, then he gets the support that he needs. If it's not an issue, if it was him being reckless, then, you know, he deals with it.

"The sledging, the media from the UK, from Australia, he deals with that and just makes sure that he comes out the better from the situation."