"One of the nobodies we beat won a Test match in Australia" - SA coach hits back at Michael Vaughan's comments on team's WTC final qualification

South Africa's Test coach Shukri Conrad hit back at former England captain Michael Vaughan's recent comments on his side enjoying an easy path to the 2025 World Test Championship (WTC) final. The Proteas recently defeated Pakistan in the first Test of their two-match home series to book a place in the WTC final in June.

Yet, the WTC format has been criticized for the uneven number of matches between the teams and Vaughan was quick to point out South Africa not playing Australia or England in their path.

"If you look at South Africa, they’ve got to the final by beating pretty much nobody. I don’t understand the table; I don’t understand the system we have in place. They have beaten Pakistan at home and beaten Sri Lanka at home. I am not against South Africa, but the system has allowed them to get to the final, and they’ve drawn 1-1 against India at home, and they haven’t played England or Australia—I just don’t like the system," said Vaughan to Fox Cricket [via iol.co.za].

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Speaking to ESPN Cricinfo ahead of the second Test against Pakistan, Conrad responded to Vaughan's comments saying:

"One of the nobodies we beat won a Test match in Australia - West Indies beat Australia in a Test match. They are not nobody. New Zealand beat India: three-zip in India. New Zealand is not a nobody. Sri Lanka won Test matches [against England and New Zealand]. I don't buy this thing about us beating nobody."

"You tell any side to go and win six on the bounce, in places you haven't won in a decade and with a young side, with a decimated bowling attack and when you do that, you come back and tell me that we've beaten nobody," he added.

South Africa are on top of the WTC table, having won seven out of their 11 Tests in the ongoing cycle with one game to go. Meanwhile, England have played 22 Tests in the cycle, while India and Australia have already played 18 and 16, respectively.

"What do I say to the people who are jumping up and down?"

1st Test: South Africa v Pakistan, Day 3 - Source: Getty

Shukri Conrad felt the percentage points system followed for the WTC standings is as fair as they get, considering the uneven numbers of matches the teams play.

While South Africa has qualified for the WTC 2025 final, their opponents will be India, Australia, or Sri Lanka.

"What do I say to the people who are jumping up and down? Look, with the little bit of math I did, percentages are probably the ideal way of working it out. Let's assume we play 12 [Tests] now and we win six, then we end up with 50%. Because some other teams play 20 Tests, is it okay for them to lose ten and be the same? You still have to win more than you lose and get your percentages up, irrespective of who you play against," said Conrad.

New Zealand won the inaugural WTC edition in 2021, while Australia triumphed in the latest cycle in 2023. Both teams defeated India in the summit clash.

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