Bedingham Returns as Proteas Gear Up for WTC Final Showdown

After a frustrating injury setback, Proteas middle-order batter David Bedingham has been cleared to play in next month’s highly anticipated ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final against Australia at Lord’s.

Bedingham, 31, suffered a broken toe during his first County Championship match for Durham earlier this season, forcing him out of action and raising initial doubts about his availability for the final. However, Proteas head coach Shukri Conrad allayed all fears by including the right-hander in the 15-man squad named earlier this week.

“In the first game back, I got hit on the toe, and it broke,” Bedingham told Independent Media. “It’s been a frustrating wait. There’s not much you can do for a broken toe—you just have to let the bone heal.”

The enforced break, however, may have had a silver lining. Bedingham, who has played almost non-stop cricket over the past three years across South Africa and the UK, admitted the time off allowed him to recharge.

“I haven’t had a proper break in a long time,” he said. “It’s been hectic—playing in South Africa during the summer and then going straight into county cricket in England. This time off has helped me mentally and physically. I’ve done some light training, spent time with my wife, and now I feel refreshed.”

Set to return to action in Durham’s next County Championship fixture against Somerset, Bedingham is keen to regain form ahead of the Lord’s clash. Despite a challenging recent Test season, he remains optimistic and motivated.

“This last season didn’t go like I wanted it to,” he admitted. “But these things happen. Facing Australia, who are the number one Test side, is a huge challenge—but also a chance to prove ourselves as a batting group. If we can do well against them, it will give us the confidence to compete with anyone.”

Captain Temba Bavuma echoed those sentiments, labelling the final at Lord’s as a defining moment in his career. “Being at Lord’s, the home of cricket, against Australia—it’s always fiery, always dramatic,” Bavuma said. “And the fact that it’s Test cricket, which has lost some ground to T20 globally, makes this even more significant.”

Bavuma emphasized the symbolic weight of the occasion. “It’s a chance to bring silverware home. That alone makes this one of the biggest stages of our careers.”

The Proteas have opted for a largely settled squad, with Conrad staying loyal to his core group. Aiden Markram and Ryan Rickelton are set to open the batting, while Lungi Ngidi returns to the Test setup for the first time since October 2024. Despite strong recent performances, fast bowlers Gerald Coetzee and Anrich Nortje were ruled out due to fitness concerns.

“There weren’t too many headaches with selection,” Bavuma explained. “Ngidi brings experience and familiarity with English conditions. From a leadership and strategy point of view, having someone like him in the bowling group is invaluable.”

South Africa will enter the WTC final as underdogs, but with players like Bedingham finding their rhythm and a motivated squad assembled for conditions at Lord’s, the Proteas are aiming not just to compete—but to make history.

Sources: SACricketMag | IOL