London: On Friday evening at Lord’s, South Africa inched closer to a landmark victory, needing only 69 more runs to secure a historic Test win. Inside the dressing room, players timed their bathroom breaks carefully, only stepping out during official pauses in play, like drinks breaks or when captain Temba Bavuma received treatment for his hamstring.
It wasn’t instructed—it was instinctual. The squad intended to maintain the rhythm and momentum Bavuma and Aiden Markram had set at the crease.
This unusual but symbolic commitment echoed old superstitions that once ruled South African dressing rooms, where even changing seats during a match was frowned upon.
Though such rituals have relaxed over time, they could resurface on Saturday, with the team now standing on the brink of history.
Markram and Bavuma’s resilient partnership on Day 3 deflated Australia’s famed bowling attack. Australia’s bowlers looked unusually ineffective on a pitch that had dramatically slowed and dried.
With just four wickets falling all day, compared to 14 on each of the previous days, it was clear conditions had shifted in the batters’ favor.
Rather than attacking recklessly, the South African pair smartly assessed the pitch and played within themselves. They accumulated runs calmly, turning over the strike and waiting for loose deliveries.
Their control of the innings threw Australia off, with captain Pat Cummins forced to rotate his bowlers and try part-timers Beau Webster and Travis Head.
Australia’s woes were compounded by the absence of Steve Smith, who dislocated his finger during a slip-catch attempt. Cummins, clearly feeling the pressure, took guidance from multiple teammates during strategy discussions but struggled to find answers.
South Africa’s current dominance contrasts sharply with its history of faltering in crucial moments. Memories of last year’s collapse in Barbados loom large.
However, this generation of batters, raised on high-pressure run chases across formats, seems less haunted by the past. Australia’s assistant coach, Dan Vettori, noted the modern trend: run-chasing now feels routine rather than daunting.
On Saturday, South Africa will return to the field with nerves high and bladders held. The finish line is near, yet only history and their ghosts stand in their way. Cummins, ever the competitor, will try one last time to deny them.
