South Africa’s head coach, Shukri Conrad, has declared that his team “created our own reality” by becoming World Test Champions, a triumph he believes holds immense significance beyond the immediate moment and will reignite national passion for Test and first-class cricket.

For Conrad, this victory carries a deep personal resonance. Both he and his late father, Sedick Conrad, were denied the opportunity to represent South Africa during the Apartheid era. Recalling his father’s passing exactly three months before the WTC final’s opening day, Conrad emotionally shared his father’s long-held wish: “With two runs to go, I remember the old man saying to me, ‘I just want to see you beat Australia one day’.” He also recounted the unexpected emotional outpouring from Keshav Maharaj, whose own father faced similar limitations due to Apartheid, highlighting the profound emotional release for the team after ten tense sessions of Test cricket.

“It was probably the two worst hours of cricket for me, but the two best at the same time,” Conrad said of the nail-biting finish. “We were living every emotion, almost sketching everything that potentially could go wrong… I’m thrilled for these guys.”

Conrad, a deeply rooted figure in South African cricket, has coached at every level, from provincial teams to the national academy and A-side. His selections for the WTC final, which initially raised eyebrows—such as recalling Aiden Markram, appointing Temba Bavuma captain, and backing Lungi Ngidi despite a ten-month Test absence—all paid off. He successfully forged a team that, despite external doubts, delivered on a dream.

Defying Criticism and Conquering the Best

Conrad dismissed criticisms about South Africa’s “easy run” to the final, having not faced England or Australia during their two-year WTC cycle until the ultimate clash. “We’re the world champions. We create our own reality,” he asserted. “(People were saying) we haven’t played any of the big three. Well, now we’ve played one of them and we beat them. This is not me being arrogant. This is me saying when we play against the supposed top three, we will perform. And we’re the world champions.” He emphasized that his team simply “played the cards we’re dealt with,” and did so “nicely.”

The victory over Australia, whom Conrad called “arguably the best side in the world,” holds extra significance given their historical dominance in world cricket. He also highlighted the match itself as a spectacle, with momentum swinging multiple times, asserting that it was “the best cricketing experience we’ve ever been a part of,” regardless of the outcome.

Over 100,000 passionate fans, predominantly South African expatriates and travelers, packed Lord’s, creating a vibrant atmosphere. They sang traditional songs like “Shosholoza” and “Oh Temba Bavuma,” scenes rarely witnessed during a typical South African Test summer.

Inspiring Future Generations

Conrad hopes this WTC win will ignite a renewed love for Test and first-class cricket back home. “I just want people to fall in love with first-class and Test cricket again and I think people will, because the spin-offs are immense,” he said. He believes a strong first-class system and Test team ultimately benefit the more popular T20 format, citing how highly sought-after South African players are in the IPL.

While South African fans will have to wait over a year to see their champion team on home soil due to scheduling and ground refurbishments, they can anticipate eight home Tests next season, including three each against England and Australia. Conrad concluded that while the wait may feel long, South African fans have waited long enough to label their team as champions, and now, winning a world title is indeed “their reality too.”