From 162cm tall Temba Bavuma to 206cm giant Marco Jansen – South Africa’s biggest threats

South Africa boast a generational quick and 2.06m tall all-rounder, but Australia’s biggest threat at the World Test Championship final could come from a much quieter figure. The Proteas’ danger men uncovered.

Temba Bavuma and Marco Jansen are at opposite ends of the height spectrum. Picture: Darren Stewart/Getty Images)

Who wins the World Test Championship final? To the casual observer, it might be an easy answer.

The No. 1-ranked nation in the world, Australia, are heavy favourites against the world No. 3 South Africa in the neutral surrounds of Lord’s in England.

But there’s a reason the Proteas were the first to qualify for Test cricket’s biggest showdown.

They’re armed with a fearsome bowling attack, some genuinely exciting young talent and Test cricket’s most sucesful captain right now.

And for the past two years they’ve spent most of their time winning. Here are five players who have the potential to make a mockery of the pre-series betting odds – and should strike fear into the hearts of Australia’s players.

South Africa captain Temba Bavuma. Picture: Stu Forster/Getty Images

Temba Bavuma

WTC performance: 609 runs at 60.9. Two centuries

Batters win you games, bowlers win you tournaments.

South Africa’s elite bowling unit has powered its charge to the World Test Championship final, but it could be its leading light with the bat that secures the country’s first ICC silverware since 1998.

That leading light is Temba Bavuma, who has claims to being the best batter from either finalist in the current WTC cycle.

Eyebrows were raised when Bavuma was named South Africa’s new Test captain in 2023, but the gritty 162cm batter has been a revelation since taking the reins. Across nine Tests as captain, he’s averaging 57.78, with three tons to his name. For comparison’s sake, from 54 Tests before captaincy he averaged 34.53 with one century. He’s gone from battler to world class.

No skipper can boast similar individual success in that period, with Pat Cummins’ bowling average of 25.06 the closest comparison.

His success has transferred to the team’s success too – South Africa has won eight of its nine matches under him, with the outlier a rain-affected draw in the West Indies. That winning percentage of 88.89 per cent is the best of any Test captain with at least five matches to his name

The right-hander’s tournament average is second only to Kamindu Mendis (62.38) among batters to have played more than two Tests.

Kagiso Rabada is among the best fast bowlers of his generation. Picture: Ashley Vlotman/Getty Images

Kagiso Rabada

WTC performance: 47 wickets at 19.97. Three five-wicket hauls

The youngest of Test cricket’s big three fast bowlers – Pat Cummins and Jasprit Bumrah the others – Kagiso Rabada is destined to go down as one of South Africa’s best ever seamers. And that says plenty. Yet to turn 30, he’s already taken 327 Test wickets and will have Dale Steyn’s record for the most wickets by a South African firmly in his sights. Both a workhorse and a spearhead, Rabada’s bowling average this WTC is the best of any bowler likely to feature in the final, and his strike rate (37.89) is bettered by only Josh Hazlewood (37.82). He has enjoyed himself in the past against Australia (49 wickets at 23.08), but England has not been his happiest hunting ground (30 wickets at 26.06).

Keshav Maharaj is South Africa’s quiet achiever. Picture: Darren Stewart/Getty Images

Keshav Maharaj

WTC performance: 40 wickets at 20.57. Two five-wicket hauls

Being a spinner for South Africa is often a thankless task, but not for Keshav Maharaj. Only Rabada took more wickets than Maharaj for South Africa this WTC, and the left-arm finger-spinner could make a case as being the tournament’s best tweaker. Among the top-10 wicket-taking spinners for the cycle, only Pakistan’s Noman Ali (46 at 14.76) boasts a better average than Maharaj’s 20.57 – and the Protea played his cricket in far less conducive spinning conditions.

Marco Jansen towers over most cricketers. Picture: Christiaan Kotze/Gallo Images/Getty Images

Marco Janson

WTC performance: 29 wickets at 20.82. Two five-wicket haul

The tallest of timbers, Marco Jansen is a full eight centimetres taller than Cameron Green at 2.06m and has used that height to serious affect in Test cricket – his bowling average (21.76) and strike rate (37.4) are elite. Quick enough and accurate enough to trouble even the best, Janson’s record in England (nine wicket at 13.11) is cause for concern for the Aussies. He’s more than handy with the bat too, averaging more than twenty, with three half-centuries to date.

Ryan Rickelton knows how to go big. Picture: Richard Huggard/Getty Images

Ryan Rickelton

WTC performance: 451 runs at 56.37. Two centuries

Experienced on the first-class scene but a relative newbie in the Test arena, Rickelton has been rocks and diamonds so far.

From 10 Tests the top-order batter has only passed 50 twice, but on both occasions he’s gone on to make a ton, with the second – his most recent Test innings – a double-century.

Set to bat in South Africa’s top three, he’s one the Aussies will want to get past quickly.

Originally published as From 162cm tall Temba Bavuma to 206cm giant Marco Jansen – South Africa’s biggest threats