After the Proteas went and conquered the world at the home of cricket, Lord’s, by outclassing nemesis Australia in the World Test Championship final, it goes without saying that the pressure is now on and the bar has been set for future stars.
Led by captain Temba “Lord” Bavuma, South Africa made history and ended a 27-year drought when they were crowned world Test champions.
Now, with the 2025 Women’s Cricket World Cup and the 2027 Men’s ODI World Cup, among other major competitions, coming up, the likes of Ayabonga Khaka and Bavuma, who are in the twilight of their careers, will pass the baton to the youngsters who are banging on the door.
Kwena Maphaka (19)
Teenage sensation Kwena Maphaka is probably one of the few youngsters living their dream and have the world at their feet.
Maphaka went from playing in the Under-19 World Cup to becoming a fully fledged, all-format Proteas player in a space of 12 months.
His stock continues to rise as he will be rubbing shoulders with the WTC champs in the upcoming Test tour against Zimbabwe later this month.
This past week, the 19-year-old was spotted at the OR Tambo Airport to welcome the Proteas after their WTC triumph, and that could have been him manifesting a feeling of what it feels like to return as a champion.
Dewald Brevis (22)
Also selected for the historic Test in Zimbabwe, Dewald Brevis is also on the right track to cementing his place in the senior national team.
Like Maphaka, Brevis also made a name for himself at a U19 World Cup, and he has never looked back since then.
The young all-rounder is like-ned to Proteas legend AB de Villiers for his batting technique and idiosyncrasies.
Brevis has also played in the Indian Premier League, Caribbean Premier League and has won the SA20 title with MI Cape Town this year.
Nonkululeko ‘Leftie’ Mlaba (24)
Known for her dangerous left-hand spin, Nonkululeko Mlaba is already a star within her right and surely one to carry the hopes of many black female cricketers in the country.
Mlaba was one of the stand-out players for South Africa at the T20 World Cup last year in Dubai, where she completed the tournament as the second-best wicket-taker with 12 scalps behind New Zealand’s Amelia Kerr, who took a total of 15 wickets.
The Kwazulu-Natal-born left-arm spinner was also included in the team of the tournament.
Mlaba will, without a doubt, be key for the Proteas women building up to the World Cup later this year in September.
Tristan Stubbs (24)
Having already tasted glory with the Proteas at in Lord’s and having a WTC gold medal in his collection, Tristan Stubbs will certainly be a perfect reference to the up-and-coming Proteas.
Dubbed as a game-changer and a player who has the X-factor, his hitting ability was evident at the IPL. Stubbs may not be great, but he is powerful and has all the attributes to be a future star for the Proteas.
There are also players like Gerald Coetzee (24), Tumi Sekhukhune (26), Nqaba Peter (23), Daniel Smith (22), Dewan Marais (20), and Tristan Luus (19), among many others, that will determine what the future of SA cricket looks like.
