Bavuma leads the battle cry

SOUTH AFRICA V AUSTRALIA

- ZAAHIER ADAMS

South Africa is a country reared on hardship and struggle. It is part of the DNA of our nation.

The Proteas have suffered through their fair share. It's been 27 years since the national men’s tasted success in a major ICC final.

There have been fleeting moments of joy when Graeme Smith lifted the ICC's golden Test mace here at Lord's back in 2012, but that was via a different format.

This is a winner takes all showdown against the defending champions Australia at the most revered cricket stadia of all. The fact that Australia have been the Proteas’ chief tormentors over the years further fuels the fire, especially with the scars still fresh after their last meeting in 2022-23 when Pat Cummins' side struck down an out-of-sorts South African side 2-0.

"That wasn't a good time," Bavuma said on the eve of the World Test Championship final.

"I think for a lot of us who were there it was a little bit of an eye-opener, playing against Australia, seeing how their batters went about their business, facing their bowlers and how you were always under pressure and had to find ways to exert pressure back on them."

South Africans don’t stay down on the canvas for too long though. There is a natural inclination to fight back when pushed up against the wall. No DNA, just RSA.