Cape Town: Temba Bavuma has joined an elite group of players who have achieved the highest number of victories after their first nine Tests as captain.
Since assuming the role of Test captain for the Proteas, Bavuma has demonstrated exceptional leadership. Prior to arriving in Cape Town, he had an impressive record of seven wins out of eight Tests.
The 34-year-old showcased his leadership as South Africa amassed a staggering 615 runs in their first innings. With a stellar performance from the bowlers, South Africa restricted Pakistan to just 194 runs, enabling them to enforce the follow-on.
Bavuma's counterpart, Shan Masood, raised the stakes with a commendable 145 runs, but it was insufficient to secure a competitive total for Pakistan, resulting in South Africa clinching the series with a 2-0 victory.
This win in Cape Town marked Bavuma's eighth victory as captain in Test cricket, placing him alongside former Australian captains Warwick Armstrong and Lindsay Hassett for the most wins after their first nine Tests.
Former England captain Percy Chapman holds a flawless record, having led his team to nine straight victories in his initial nine Tests.
Importantly, South Africa's triumph in Cape Town represented their seventh consecutive win in Test cricket. The 10-wicket victory was also their second over Pakistan in Tests, following their win in Durban in 2002.
South Africa concluded the cycle with an impressive 69.44 percent of available points, securing the top position in the standings. In contrast, Australia, the other finalist, achieved 63.73 percent of possible points and will not surpass South Africa's total, even if they achieve a clean sweep in their forthcoming series against Sri Lanka.
Currently, South Africa does not have any Test matches scheduled prior to the final. However, Proteas coach Shukri Conrad has indicated plans for potential preparations.
"We are exploring the possibility of arranging a Test match, likely in the UK, against either Ireland or Afghanistan, depending on their availability," Conrad stated, as reported by the ICC.
"If we are unable to secure a match, we will arrive a few days early to ensure we have a thorough training camp, likely in Canterbury," he added.
