SA vs AUS | South Africa’s mantra was to play one ball at a time’ - explains batting coach Ashwell Prince

‌The World Test Championship 2025 final between South Africa and Australia at Lord’s was well-poised when the Proteas skipper Temba Bavuma walked in after the dismissal of Wiaan Mulder off Mitchell Starc with the score reading 70/2 before tea. Bavuma had luck on his side as Steve Smith dropped a straightforward chance at slip in Starc’s next over.

The South Africa captain was on two and another wicket at that time would have spelled trouble for the side. But he managed to keep that out during his remaining part of the knock as he looked comfortable during his association with opener Aiden Markram despite carrying a hamstring injury. Markram and Bavuma remained unbeaten on 102 and 65, respectively, with their 143-run association taking SA to 213/2, with only 69 runs between them and an elusive ICC title. Post the day’s play, batting coach Ashwell Prince reiterated that the duo had reflected on the team’s mantra to play one ball at a time.

"The messaging has been the same throughout," Prince said during the press conference post day three. "Make them believe that they can do it, and then just step out the way and allow them to go and do it.

"One of the things we said before the run-chase is: 'The game will finish when it finishes'," he said. "Whether that is tomorrow at lunchtime or whatever, the end of the match will take care of itself. For us, the most important thing is to remain in the moment. And from a batting point of view, that means play one ball at a time."

However, the team and the support staff are well aware that the job is not yet done especially with South Africa’s history of throwing it away after being in comfortable positions in ICC tournaments in the past, including in the T20 World Cup final against India in the West Indies last year. And Prince emphasised that point with the head coach Shukri Conrad’s conversation with both the batters after the end of the day’s play on Friday.

"Shukri must get a lot of credit for that," he said. "As soon as Aiden and Temba came up the stairs [after the third day], the first thing he said was, 'Guys, do the same as you do every night'. Don't change a thing. Tomorrow morning, come and do the same warm-ups that you do every day. We obviously understand the magnitude of the situation and what's at stake, but just stay calm and take it in your stride."

With Bavuma pulling his hamstring while attempting a quick single before tea, the team management had a tough time deciding whether the Proteas skipper should continue in the middle or be called back. Since every run in a chase of this magnitude was going to be important, Bavuma’s difficulty in running between the wickets compounded the issue but his partner Markram was very clear that his captain continued alongside him as both were batting together beautifully. And in the end, the call proved right as the 143-run stand put Australia on the backfoot and SA close to their first ICC title in 27 years.

"We had to make a big call whether he continues to bat and how it will affect his strokeplay, how that might affect Aiden's rhythm," the South African batting coach said. “Both of them were adamant that Temba was going to continue. Obviously, had Stubbs gone in, we would have still had Temba's wicket intact, but you start a new partnership.”

"Temba is tough," Prince said. "Aiden has great respect for Temba. In fact, I think this team's greatest strength is the unity that they have in this camp. They are well aware that South Africa have had much greater individual players, but they've got something special going on in that dressing room, and that sort of helps them to drag each other along,” he concluded.