Test final must trump IPL, says South Africa coach

Test final must trump IPL, says South Africa coach

Coach Shukri Conrad said on Tuesday that South Africa's players must prioritise the World Test Championship final over the closing stages of the Indian Premier League.

Proteas fast bowler Marco Jansen
PHILL MAGAKOE / AFP


Conrad said there was an agreement that South Africa's players would return from India on May 26 –- the day after the original date of the IPL final.


This would enable them to have time to prepare for the Test final against Australia at Lord's in London from June 11 to 15., but I am not one of those people."


Bavuma said he was fully fit after missing South Africa's domestic four-day series final in April because of a recurrence of an elbow injury.


Batsman David Bedingham has recovered from a broken toe suffered while batting for Durham in an English county championship match against Yorkshire in April.


Conrad said he expected South Africa to go into the final as underdogs but said that was purely on the basis of experience.


"When we play our best cricket, we've every chance of beating Australia. I give us more than an even chance," he said.


The players will assemble in England on May 31 ahead of a warm-up match against Zimbabwe in Arundel from June 3 to 6.


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