South Africa currently occupy third position in the International Cricket Council’s rankings for Test teams.
They are in first position on the 2023-25 ICC World Test Championship points table – and have qualified for the final at Lord’s in London later this year.
“You can see that the team has a good energy. They look like a team that’s really playing for each other. They’re committed to each other and they’re playing well. It’s also great to see the spirit with which they’re playing the game,” said former Proteas captain Graeme Smith.
“I feel there’s some real spirit being built back into the game with people starting to get behind our team again.”
Smith played 117 Tests, 197 ODIs and 33 T20Is from 2002 to 2014. He has since been Cricket South Africa’s director of cricket – and is currently the league commissioner for the SA20.
“At the SA20 we’re part of the greater cricket ecosystem and play a role in helping South African cricket grow. Our goal remains to expose our local players to an outstanding competition where the best are playing against the best. That way they get used to pressure situations,” he added.
“We want to try and create a player pool that has depth and for players to push for a place in the Proteas team. That creates good competition and that’s ultimately how you get better national teams.”
The third edition of the SA20 will start this month. The Sunrisers Eastern Cape, who are captained by Proteas batsman Aiden Markram, are the reigning SA20 champions. They won the tournament in 2023 and 2024.
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