South Africa’s all-format coach Shukri Conrad expressed pride in his team’s performance despite falling short against New Zealand in the tri-series final in Harare. Calling it “a game of millimetres,” Conrad made it clear that the squad’s spirited showing is a solid foundation for future success.
Although South Africa lost all three encounters with New Zealand, their final match was fiercely competitive. In fact, they nearly pulled off their highest-ever successful chase against the Kiwis. The squad featured just two players—Reeza Hendricks and Gerald Coetzee—from the previous T20 World Cup lineup. The rest were mostly new faces, which underlines the depth Conrad is fostering ahead of next year’s tournament.
Conrad emphasized that the positives from the series far outweighed the disappointment. “There were so many good things to be proud of,” he said. His focus remains on building a team that balances youth with experience, something evident in South Africa’s final display.
Two rising stars, Lhuan-dre Pretorius and Dewald Brevis, were instrumental. Pretorius, originally slotted as a T20I opener, struggled early but responded brilliantly in the final with a rapid 51 off 35 balls. Conrad praised Pretorius for bouncing back, calling him a “classy young cricketer” with a promising future.
Brevis, already making waves in domestic circuits, nearly clinched the match for South Africa. His development as a finisher is seen as key. Despite falling short, Conrad remains optimistic. “It’s a case of when, not if, Brevis gets us over the line,” he said. “He’s one of the sweetest strikers of the cricket ball in world cricket right now.”
South Africa’s death bowling—long a weakness—showed marked improvement. In the final’s last five overs, they gave away just 45 runs with only three boundaries. Nandre Burger and Kwena Maphaka delivered tighter spells, a notable advance compared to their earlier outing where they conceded 63 runs. Conrad credited clearer bowling strategies for the turnaround.
Gerald Coetzee, who had been expensive in the first match, was omitted from the final and from the upcoming Australia tour. While his ranking has dropped, Conrad assured Coetzee still figures in South Africa’s long-term plans. He remains part of the core group expected to shape the upcoming WTC cycle and the next two World Cups.
Despite losing his first white-ball series in charge, Conrad remains upbeat. Many young players, he believes, have proven they belong on the international stage. With senior players on a scheduled break, integrating these newcomers becomes crucial.
Looking ahead, Conrad had a confident final note: “If today is going to be a yardstick, then come the T20 World Cup, whoever wants to win the tournament will have to beat us.” He believes the makings of a world-class team are forming across all formats—and South Africa won’t be taken lightly in future tournaments.