Proteas move from Lord's to Queens as World Test Champions look to 'reset' in Bulawayo

The Proteas may be preparing to play at the Queen’s Sports Club, but the picturesque Bulwayo ground will be a world away from the Majesty’s Kingdom where they were recently crowned World Test Champions.

All-rounder Wiaan Mulder, though, believes the upcoming two-match series against Zimbabwe, starting on Saturday, is the perfect opportunity for the team to “reset” after their heroics at Lord’s last week.

“Coming from Lord’s, firstly, the home of cricket, the history, the tradition, everything you want to call it, to Bulwayo … I guess it's different,” Mulder admitted. 

“But to reset is very important. I think, for some of the guys that played in that Test, because if I tell you a week before that Test, I can't remember much that happened. 

“It was all a bit of a blur and the adrenaline was pretty much there every day. I hardly slept for 10 days. So, to reset mentally is more important than anything else.”

Equally, the celebrations have been of epic proportions since captain Temba Bavuma lifted the ICC’s golden mace at Lord’s, particularly once the team arrived back home where a nation was eagerly awaiting the men that ended a 27-year ICC trophy drought.

“The celebrations have been awesome. I think we spent quite a bit of time together once we got back and spent time with the sponsors and all those types of things,” Mulder said.

“When it comes to celebrations, it was the best I've ever celebrated for a Test win. It was awesome!”

Coach Shukri Conrad is a wily character, though, and he had already prepared for a possible victory hangover by resting Aiden Markram, Kagiso Rabada, Tristan Stubbs, Ryan Rickelton and Marco Jansen for the Zimbabwe series. 

Subsequently, captain Temba Bavuma has also been ruled out due to the hamstring injury he sustained during his courageous 66 in the second innings at Lord’s that drove the Proteas to the five-wicket victory. 

Conrad has shrewdly filled the squad with youthful upstarts such as Kwena Mphaka, Dewald Brevis, Lhuan-dre Pretorius along with the uncapped Lesego Senokwane, Codi Yusuf and Prenelan Subrayen in a bid to inject fresh energy into the squad for this two-match series.

“I think there's a lot of guys here who want to prove a point, why they're here, and how well they've played over the last couple of domestic seasons to get here,” Mulder said.

“So, I think the squad won't worry too much about what happened with the WTC. I think the one or two guys that are here also want to play cricket. So that's the big thing. We're really excited for the Test coming up.”

Mulder also feels that standard has been set for anyone coming into the Proteas squad as they are now forming part of the current World Test Champions. 

“We look at ourselves as world champions," he said. "That's the standard we set for ourselves.

"So, even at today's practice, everybody has that in the back of their mind that we're training like we're the best in the world, not like we're trying to, you know, become something new.

“We compete in every practice and I'm pretty sure when we get into that Test match.

“That's the exciting part about having such a talented group here in Zimbabwe. Yes, some of the guys needed a rest. Of course they do. I mean, that's why they perform at the highest level so consistently. But it's another opportunity for someone else.”

The series will also be crucial for Mulder as he hopes to cement the crucial No 3 position after showing glimpses of his potential in the second innings at Lord’s.

“I always see myself as a batter. I've always wanted to bat. I think a lot of my career, I have hidden behind that fact and tried to bowl more or whatever the case may be,” he said.

“I love the chance to bat at three. And when I broke my finger in December, it all kind of changed.

"I think me breaking my finger created an opportunity that wouldn't have necessarily been there before. So, I love batting at three and hopefully I can make it work because it just balances the team nicely.”