Bavuma hopes Proteas' success has 'won over a couple of doubters

TEMBA Bavuma hopes leading the Proteas Men's team to a historic World Test Championship title at Lord's yesterday will elevate him to be "recognised more than just a Black African cricketer" and that the success "inspires our country".

- ZAAHIER ADAMS

The Proteas defeated Australia by five wickets on the fourth morning of a pulsating WTC final to earn South Africa's first victory in a major ICC final in 27 years. Bavuma played a major hand in the Proteas' success, scoring 66 in the second innings, which formed part of a match-winning 147-run stand with centurion Aiden Markram (136). The skipper has also not lost a Test in 10 matches as captain and averages 57 with the bat when he's walked out to spin the coin, and is now seemingly adored by both his team and fans, particularly those who sung "Oh Temba Bavuma" with gusto for the last couple of days in St John's Wood.

But this adoration has not always been the case with Bavuma having experienced plenty of abuse, often of a personal nature, over the last few years, which was primarily associated with the Proteas' failures in white-ball competitions.