For head coach Shukri Conrad, South Africa’s success as the new World Test Champions is much more than a mere moment of pride. He and his father Sedick, who were both sidelined by apartheid-era constraints, could only dream of this intense, intimate full-circle moment when they were performing.
Sedick passed away on March 11. Exactly three months later, Shukri watched his team defeat Australia to win the WTC mace while standing on the Lord’s outfield with his eyes obscured by dark glasses.
“With two runs to go, I remember the old man saying to me, ‘I just want to see you beat Australia one day,'” Shukri said. Later, speaking to broadcasters and referencing Keshav Maharaj’s emotional reaction on air, he added: “They [the eyes] are worse than Kesh’s.”
After the victory, Maharaj, who is typically seen as stoic, started crying. Like Sedick Conrad, his father Athmanand was also denied the opportunityto represent the nation because of apartheid. South Africa’s emotional outpouring was rendered even more genuine and honest by the weight of history.
“It was probably the two worst hours of cricket for me, but the two best at the same time,” Shukri admitted. “We were living every emotion, almost sketching everything that potentially could go wrong. The mind just plays weird and wonderful games. When Scholsy [Kyle Verreynne] smacked that one, there was just an outpour of applause from everyone. I’m thrilled for these guys.”
Shukri is largely a product of grassroots cricket in South Africa. He has coached the national academy, the A squad, the Under-19s, and elite domestic teams like Western Province and Gauteng. In private, he has established a reputation for spotting brilliance and supporting it, even when it causes controversy. From bringing back Aiden Markram and supporting Temba Bavuma as captain to putting his faith in Dane Paterson, Kyle Verreynne, Wiaan Mulder, and Lungi Ngidi, all of his significant selection decisions throughout the WTC cycle have been successful.
“This is not me trying to justify my selections in any way. This is purely a case of every single guy on this side wanting to deliver and play his part. And everybody did,” he said. “We’re the world champions. We create our own reality.”
Much of the lead-up to the final saw criticism directed at South Africa’s path, which didn’t include playing England or Australia. Shukri was unfazed then, and remained firm after the victory.
“(People were saying) we haven’t played any of the big three. Well, now we’ve played one of them and we beat them. This is not me being arrogant. This is me saying when we play against the supposed top three, we will perform. And we’re the world champions.”
Australia were no small opponent. Defending champions, one of the most decorated cricket nations in history, and arguably the best side in the world.
“Arguably the best side in the world – we’ve just beaten them,” Shukri said, his voice louder and steadier now.
The current summer ends with a tour to India in December, and the SA20 takes over from there. With stadium refurbishments in preparation for the 2027 ODI World Cup, no home red-ball cricket is scheduled.
But there will be eight Test matches in the upcoming season, including three against Australia and England. Shukri and the country are all too aware that some aspirations are worth waiting for, even though it may feel like a long wait to watch South Africa’s title squad play.
After all, as he said: “We create our own reality.”
