The Proteas’ Test team will always play catchup according to coach Shukri Conrad.
On the eve of leaving for Bangladesh where they’ll play two Tests against their hosts – the first of which starts next Monday – Conrad was fielding questions about his team’s readiness for the five-dayers.
The Proteas played two Tests against the West Indies in August and only had three other matches before that series in 2024.
A look at the ICC Test Championship log from 2023-2025 reveals South Africa have played only six matches – the fewest of all countries – with England, by comparison, already playing a total of 17 Tests.
Of possibly being undercooked against the Tigers, Conrad says: “We’ve almost grown accustomed to that. We came up against a battle-hardened West Indies side in their conditions.
“They came off a three-match series against England and now we’re walking into Bangladesh, who have won in Pakistan.
“I wouldn’t want it any other way. I obviously want to play more. But we know it’s going to be tough both on and off the field.
“But for the sake of this team and this team moving forward, I want us to be exposed to those sort of things – teams being in form and in their own conditions. It will be a real test of character for the individual and the unit.
“But we’re always going to play catchup...
“It’s not ever going to be an excuse, I’ll never say we don’t play enough and that’s why we got thumped.”