Temba Bavuma’s history-making Proteas deserve to be celebrated as a diverse team that has grown in character, and more importantly, finally represents South Africans from all walks of life, writes Alasdair Fraser.

A first major cricketing title for South Africa, earned by winning an ICC final. That was so satisfying to type that, I have to say. Nearly 30 years of tears and drama washed away. I have always backed the Proteas and was disturbed to see that many sports lovers decided to give this Test a miss. Not me. I watched this match from the very first ball. When I went out to the shops, or a client meeting, I went armed with my son’s tablet. When Lungi Ngidi dismissed Steve Smith, I shouted so loud in the Pick n Pay aisles that the entire shop heard my screams of joy.

I watched it all and there were some fantastic individual performances from both the Proteas and the Aussies. But I stopped watching when we went into bat, chasing 282 runs on a track that gave the bowlers plenty of purchase and bag loads of wickets. I even went as far as writing them off in a facebook comment to a friend when Ryan Rickelton departed early in the run chase. I will happily eat humble pie, cold, stale, dry and well past its sell-by date.

I noticed while going out for a sundowner with the family, that everyone at our local watering hole was avoiding the big screen. We’ve been burned since 1992. Forget the 1998 Champions Trophy win or the rare times we held the ICC Test Mace. Major cup knockouts and the Proteas always end up in tears.

Well that’s changed. Finally. This team, as diverse as they are, have overcome many obstacles – not only on the field but the boardroom – and it’s indicative of this team’s spirit. It’s taken South African cricket some time to catch up with its rugby counterparts on the field. Everyone in that side deserves to be there.

If you have been on this journey since readmission, you will know exactly where I am coming from when I say that this Championship means the world to us. It’s a massive achievement. Hopefully once it sets in, most of us will celebrate this team for years to come. The heartbreak of the past will always be there, but my son and his generation will never know that heartbreak because their memories will be of what this team has achieved in the present tense. 

The majority of the incredible South African fans at Lord’s know exactly the hurt and pain of past tournaments. From 1992, it’s been a tough road of tears and serious letdowns. Even South Africa’s first Test back from isolation ended in heartbreak. It almost mirrored the World Test Championship final at Lord’s with Kepler Wessels men in a commanding position to beat the feared Windies at home. We all know how that turned out.

For me there are two standouts to take from this momentous achievement: Shukri Conrad deserves every single plaudit coming his way. The manner in which he has taken a team of individuals and moulded them into a Championship-winning unit who play for each other and know that when they are called upon to step up, they do so with such aplomb and respect for each other – regardless of their diverse backgrounds.

Secondly, captain Temba Bavuma deserves to be respected for the manner in which he has led this team. A quiet leader who likes to lead from the front has all the respect in the world from every single one of his teammates. Maybe, just maybe, he has now finally earned that same respect from his biggest critics. It’s time to bury the hatchet once and for all.