GIVE TEMBA HIS FLOWERS

FORMER India Test captain and ICC Hall of Famer Anil Kumble believes Proteas skipper Temba Bavuma deserves to sit at the table of the modern-day greats of world cricket.

Bavuma has previously received plenty of criticism, primarily due to the Proteas’ disappointments in the white-ball formats, but his stature as a Test leader has grown over the past two years.

Since being appointed the full-time Test captain by coach Shukri Conrad in February 2023, Bavuma has yet to lose a series. In fact, he has guided the Proteas to 10 victories out of 11 matches.

Kumble wysed: “Credit to Temba Bavuma – he doesn’t get the recognition he deserves as a captain.

“He has won 10 out of 11 Test matches as skipper for South Africa and has won a [World] Test Championship for them. He doesn’t get the kind of credit other international captains receive.”

Bavuma has led from the front during this period. He has been the Proteas’ top run-scorer the past two years with 769 runs at an average of 59.15.

Bavuma has also shown the ability to step up in groot moments with a half-century in the successful WTC final run chase, and another crucial 55 not out at Eden Gardens that helped the Proteas set up a winning target against India on Sunday.

Kumble added: “As a batter, too, he has produced two quality innings, one in the WTC final and one here [in Kolkata], literally back-to-back since he wasn’t available for Pakistan. He has done exceptionally well both as a player and a skipper.

The former leg-spinner was also impressed with the way Bavuma has manoeuvred his bowling unit in the field with the Proteas skipper not afraid to make critical decisions.

Kumble said: “I thought he did really well in bringing on Aiden Markram when there were two left-handers at the crease.”