Bavuma, SA captain, hails WTC 2023-25 as the 'Ultimate Test for Red-Ball Players'

As the current leaders of the ICC World Test Championship 2025 points table, South Africa is on the cusp of securing a spot in the highly anticipated final in June 2025. With their upcoming two Tests against Pakistan scheduled to commence on December 26, this series marks the final push for South Africa to solidify their position in the WTC. Reflecting on the team's journey, captain Bavuma expressed the significance of potentially reaching their first-ever WTC Final.

"The World Test Championship, it is a World Cup for the red-ball players. We have obviously set our sights on seeing ourselves in that final," he said as quoted by ICC.

Having swept Sri Lanka 2-0 in their previous Test assignment, South Africa now needs to win one of their two Tests against Pakistan to confirm their berth in the WTC Final. They have won six Tests, lost three and drawn one Test so far.

"We have given ourselves a very good opportunity to do so and we are quite close to that," Bavuma said.

"We have played some good cricket as a team. We would want to continue that. That championship means a lot as well to cricket around the world," he added.

The other teams in contention for the final are Australia, India and Sri Lanka, who occupy the second, third and fifth slots in the points table respectively.

With increased focus on the Test game as the WTC cycle heads towards a thrilling conclusion, Bavuma highlighted what stood out about Test cricket.

"I think from a pure skill point of view, as players, we have always wanted to play Test cricket. You want to see yourself succeeding where things are tough, where you are tested for long periods. Test cricket is the purest form of the game and there's a reason why they say that," he concluded.

In four Tests this year, Bavuma has scored 432 runs in four matches and eight innings at an average of 61.71, with one century and four fifties to his name and best score of 113. In the recently concluded Test series against Sri Lanka won by Proteas, he scored 327 runs at an average of 81.75, with a century and three fifties to his name and best score of 113.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.