'WE NEED TEMBA'

FORMER spinner Paul Harris believes Temba Bavuma’s return to the Test team is a groot boost to the Proteas’ chances in the upcoming two-match series against India. 

The World Test champions face arguably their greatest challenge since coach Shukri Conrad took control of the red-ball span in 2023, with the first Test starting at Eden Gardens, on Friday 

The Proteas have only ever won one series in India, back in 2000, when the late Hansie Cronje’s team claimed a historic 2-0 triumph. 

Equally, they have lost seven of their last eight Test matches in India, with the last victory in Nagpur 15 years ago, when Proteas ysters Dale Steyn and Hashim Amla combined with a 10-wicket match haul and an unbeaten 253 to drive the visitors to an innings-and-six-run win. 

This is the history that the Proteas will be up against, and Harris believes Bavuma’s return from injury will go a long way in helping the cause.

“We need Temba back,” said Harris, who claimed three second-innings wickets in the Nagpur victory. 

“His injuries are very worrying. For me, because he’s our best player. He’s our most consistent player over the last two to three years. He gives us stability.

“He’s obviously improved immensely. He’s always had a decent technique. But he found ways of getting in and getting out. He would get 50, 60, and get out. But a lot of the times he was batting at the tail, so, it was difficult.

“But, I mean, in the last two years, he’s been by far our most consistent player. And he gives us that structure.

“He gives us that element of someone like [Jacques] Kallis who just stays there and doesn’t get out, which you need in a Test match arena.”

Bavuma is expected to slot straight back into his No.4 position in Kolkata after recovering from a calf injury that ruled him out of the recent Pakistan series.

The skipper has been in India preparing for the Test series, where he played for the South Africa A side.

Although he suffered a duck in the first innings, Bavuma spent valuable time at the crease second time around, facing 101 balls for his 59 that helped SA A chase down 417 against an India A attack consisting of Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep, Prasidh Krishna and Kuldeep Yadav.