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South Africa have been excellent over the last few years in ICC events. Be it the men’s or the women’s, they have consistently made it to the knockouts.
The men’s team reached the final of the 2024 Men’s T20 World Cup and the semi-finals of the 2023 World Cup. They are even in the final of the World Test Championship (WTC). Meanwhile, the women’s side reached the final of the last two T20 World Cups. Even the Under-19 Women’s team reached the final this year.
South Africa have reached the finals of multiple ICC events but have failed to cross the final hurdle. However, former skipper Graeme Smith hopes that the trophy drought will end soon with a few ICC events coming up. He wants South Africa to keep pushing and be the favourites when they host the 2027 World Cup.
“Hopefully, we will end that wait much before the 2027 World Cup, with the Champions Trophy and WTC final coming up but if South Africa could win a WC trophy in front of a home crowd, it would be amazing. Over the next three years, we want to just keep pushing to improve our stadiums, pitches and our cricket ecosystem, so that by the time we host the 2027 WC, we are the favourites,” Graeme Smith was quoted saying to PTI Bhasha.
South Africa has won 7 test matches in a row to qualify for WTC final: Smith
There was a lot of criticism around South Africa’s qualification for the WTC final 2025. However, Smith believes every team knew their schedule and the Proteas won seven Tests on the trot to reach the title-clash.
“There is no smooth journey in cricket today. You have got to do what you got to do. Right in the beginning, everyone knew who they were playing and who they were not playing. South Africa has won 7 test matches in a row to qualify. Everyone should look into the Test ecosystem, how it works as you play what you have been told to play in that cycle,” the former South Africa skipper added.
South Africa lost just one series in the current 2023-25 WTC cycle which was against New Zealand when they sent a second-string side due to the SA20 League. They finished with eight wins from 12 Tests and had a points percentage of 69.44 which helped finish at the top of the points table. They face defending champions Australia in the WTC final at Lord’s in June later this year.
