THEY have been so close before. But yesterday Graeme Smith and the Proteas left Lord’s with the ICC Test mace to confirm South Africa’s status as the No 1 Test team in the world.
The venue could not have been more fitting, with the home of cricket providing the perfect backdrop for one of the most poignant moments in SA’s cricket history.
It’s been 20 years since SA’s reintroduction to international cricket and, after so many previous disappointments, the Proteas are finally on top of the world.
England, the previous holders, had given them a greater scare than anyone imagined when play started yesterday morning. The hosts refused to lie down and when chances were spurned late in the day, the spectre of the Proteas choking was once again hovering.
But that is where this Proteas class stands head and shoulders above previous SA outfits. Under the tutorship of Gary Kirsten, South Africa have added collective steel to their exceptional individual talents.
Kirsten has placed a great emphasis on personal responsibility and complemented that by adding a mental conditioning coach, Paddy Upton. In another stroke of genius, he brought in Mike Horn, the legendary SA adventurer, to assist him in helping the Proteas scale their Everest.
The past three years have been a long and winding road for Smith and his team to get to the summit of Test cricket.
They have endured some potholes along the way, but have kept it together, thanks in no small part to a strong team spirit.
Players have been made to feel comfortable, and this has allowed them to showcase their natural talents.
Besides the core of Smith and Jacques Kallis, the likes of Hashim Amla, AB de Villiers, Vernon Philander, Dale Steyn and Morné Morkel are young enough to dominate the world game for a long time.
The Proteas have done SA proud.
Now for that elusive World Cup!