Shukri Conrad and Temba Bavuma rebuilt the Proteas’ fighting spirit

The Proteas Test team have a song that they sing when coming together for a picture at the end of a big win or a triumphant series.

"We make you look good, we make you look good! Shukri Conrad, we make you look good!" has rung out on the field with plenty of spontaneous laughter over the last couple of years. It is clearly an inside joke, with the players having a bit of fun at their coach’s expense.

The song, however, is draped in sarcasm, with the players actually celebrating Conrad’s contribution to their performances, especially during the last World Test Championship cycle, when the Proteas managed to win seven Test matches in a row before beating Australia in the final at Lord’s in June this year.

Conrad, together with captain fantastic Temba Bavuma, have transformed the Proteas Test side into a top outfit, following up that win over Australia in the WTC final with a rare Test victory in Pakistan and a first red-ball win on Indian soil in 15 years.

Conrad’s plans since taking over the red-ball team a couple of years ago have mirrored Rassie Erasmus at the start of his tenure as Springboks coach. And now the performances and results are mirroring those of the world champion Boks too.

Erasmus started by identifying individuals with a certain character who could fit into the way he wanted his team to play. He then went about building enough depth and having uncomfortable but honest conversations around picking certain teams for certain conditions and opposition.

Seven years on, Erasmus has won back-to-back Rugby World Cups and the Springboks are in rude health.

Conrad has followed a similar path, picking players who were previously overlooked for national selection but who he believes have the character to fight and can play the sort of cricket he demands from his charges. The result, a World Test Championship title and, it seems, a lot more success still to come.

From the moment he took over, he made it clear that the Proteas needed to recommit to Test cricket. His message was direct: standards must rise, and players must value the honour of representing South Africa in the longest format. He has backed experienced players when necessary, but has also given opportunities to youngsters who show fight and hunger.

What stands out about Conrad is the consistency of his vision. There is no confusion, no mixed messaging. He challenges players, but he protects them too. He demands accountability, but he treats everyone with respect. Under him, selection feels purposeful rather than reactive.

The combination of Conrad’s firm hand and Bavuma’s calm leadership has created a dressing room with far less noise and far more focus. The victory over India was full of grit. It showed a team comfortable in uncomfortable situations and conditions.

What Bavuma and Conrad have achieved together is a shift in culture. They have brought back accountability without fear, honesty without drama, and confidence without arrogance. They have reminded their players, and the country, that leadership can be quiet and still be powerful.

We have seen that over the last two years whenever the team have been under pressure. Past Proteas sides have often folded when things did not go their way. But not Conrad and Bavuma’s men. They seem to relish the scrap and the chance to stare adversity in the face and say, “not today, chief”.

The win at Eden Gardens was another step forward, not a final destination. But it was also a confirmation that the Proteas Test side are once again a team with direction and belief.

At the centre of that revival are a captain who has never tasted defeat and a coach who has given the team its identity back.