Champion Proteas at their best with backs to the wall, says Rassie van der Dussen

THE identity of the Proteas teams, be it in the white-ball or Test arenas, has always been founded in resilience.

But as admirable as the trait is for the team, it has somehow cost the team in many instances.

After all, to show resilience, you have to take damage – absorb the first punch, instead of being the one to land the first punch or inflict the damage.

In recent years, Proteas teams have worked tirelessly to address this challenge.

Little did they know that the international schedule, despite it not being in favour of South Africa in terms of the number of Tests played as compared to the big three – India, England and Australia – would help accelerate their process in redefining the meaning of resilience for the team.

Shukri Conrad’s Test outfit went from playing three to five Test series to playing two-match series, a feat that gave the side almost no room for error, and ultimately forced them to land the first punch to give themselves a good chance of winning the series.

Having done well in the two-match series in the past two years, South Africa secured a place in the final of the World Test Championship at Lord’s, and went on to win the once-off match, beating Australia by five wickets last Saturday.

“The problem that we’ve had in years gone by is we play our best cricket when we’re almost on the back foot – when we’re backed into a corner – and that’s something that we’ve addressed in all formats in the last few years, because it’s not ideal,” Van der Dussen told Independent Media.

“Matthew Hayden (Australia legend and ICC Hall of Famer) even spoke about it leading up to the final.

“Because South Africa is now used to playing two Test series, it’s like you can’t start badly and rely on your resilience to come back.

“When we used to play three-Test series, against India in 2021-22, we lost the first Test at Centurion and then managed to win the next two, and that’s sort of part of our character.

“But because they’ve played two-Test series in this cycle, they couldn’t rely on that anymore.”

The Proteas moved from being slow starters to being excellent from the beginning as a result of the conscious decision to redefine the concept of resilience, and because of the nature of the team’s scheduling.

Though the resilience factor of the team was redefined, it was not thrown out of the window as it manifested itself in the successful 282-run chase at Lord’s last week.

Going into that run-chase, many believed that the Proteas had no chance, especially after being bowled out for 138 in the first innings.

However, the batters showed resilience, absorbing the pressure from the high-octane Australian pace attack and transferring pressure onto them when the opportunity presented itself, a balance that Proteas teams struggled to strike in the past.

“I think going into an innings like (fourth innings at Lord’s), where not a lot of people are giving you a chance, that almost spurs the guys on,” said Van der Dussen.

“It almost makes it more like you want to prove a point to an extent, and it’s almost like, because the odds are against you, the pressure is less.

“I must be honest, when I thought we were chasing 280, that’s a lot in any conditions... it’s a lot of runs in the fourth innings.

“Because the pressure is on the other side to win, it’s their game to lose almost.

“As a batter and as a batting unit, the longer you occupy the crease, the smaller the target becomes, regardless of how long it takes.

“You could see that pressure transferring on the bowling team, and that’s exactly what happened.

“I don’t think Australia walked out in the fourth innings expecting to lose. I think they were 99.9 percent sure that they were going to win, and the longer the guys stayed there. ..

“Everyone talks about Temba (Bavuma) and Aiden’s (Markram) partnership, but that partnership of Wiaan (Mulder) and Aiden – what was it, 60-odd – that was so massive to set up the game because it took time, it took the wind out of their sails, out of the bowler’s sails. 

“The longer it moved on, the pressure started transferring, up to a point where the Aussies probably thought they couldn't believe they’re going to lose.

“When our backs are against the wall, that’s actually when we play our best cricket.”