00:00Yeah, thank you.
00:02Morning, Tampa.
00:03Do you have an 11 for us?
00:05Yeah, we do have a team.
00:08I guess I'll just run through it.
00:10Aidan and Rickleton at the top.
00:12Mulders comes in at three, myself a four.
00:15You've got Starboy five, Bellingham, you've got Karl,
00:19you've got Marco Jansen, Kesh, KG, and Lungi.
00:26And just preparation, it feels like a long time.
00:29You've been spending here in the nets and whatnot.
00:32It almost helps, doesn't it, coming to a place like this
00:34and then before match day you become accustomed to it
00:37and maybe not overawed.
00:39Yeah, I think, I mean, we've said it before,
00:42last time we played Red Bull cricket has been a while.
00:44So, you know, coming here a couple of days early
00:47has been helpful from that sense.
00:50A lot of our work was done in Arendelle.
00:53And I think coming here to Lourdes was really to kind of
00:56get accustomed to the place, the conditions,
01:01and then obviously getting yourself mentally in the right space.
01:04I think, you know, it has been a good build-up.
01:07It has felt a little bit long.
01:09I think the guys are raring to go and start the game.
01:15Temba, you mentioned Lungi will be playing.
01:18Can you just tell us a little bit about what swayed that decision?
01:21And I suppose he hasn't played for a while,
01:22but we heard Shooks sort of singing his praises
01:24when the squad was announced.
01:26Yeah, I think, I mean, probably one of the tougher decisions
01:30that have been made.
01:31We've seen what Pato did for us to the end of last season.
01:36But I think it was more from a tactical point of view, you know,
01:42probably a little bit more pace from Lungi.
01:45Comes from, I guess, his toddler as well.
01:48I think Lungs also has a good record, you know,
01:50not taking away anything from Pato.
01:52He has the experience he's paid here before,
01:56not that Pato hasn't.
01:58But I think he will complement that bowling attack,
02:02I guess, a little bit more.
02:04We have a guy like Mulder as well,
02:06who kind of gives you similar to what Pato can do.
02:09So, yeah, I think that was probably one of the difficult decisions
02:13that we had to make.
02:15And then just, you know, obviously you've had a lot of build-up
02:18and there's been a lot of talk over the last couple of weeks.
02:21What will you say to the guys tonight?
02:23I don't know if you will even address them tonight.
02:25And what will you say to yourself like in your quiet moments
02:27around what tomorrow's going to be like?
02:29Yeah, I think, I mean, we've been with the group now.
02:32Like I said, in our preparation,
02:34I think a lot of it has been emotive,
02:36understanding what the occasion is about,
02:38being here at Lourdes.
02:40So I think from a motivation point of view,
02:42there's not much that I can do.
02:44I think if players needed to be motivated,
02:47then that would be a problem.
02:49And now it's kind of maybe just kind of getting down to the fact
02:52that we actually need to play the game.
02:53Let's play what is in front of us.
02:55Let's not get caught up into too much of the story
02:59and what could be,
03:01and just be ready for what's to come.
03:03We accept and understand that it's going to be tough
03:05against the Australians.
03:07The guys who've played against them know.
03:09And look, I mean, there have been good times,
03:12there have been bad times,
03:13and we need to feed off all those good times.
03:15So, yeah, I think time for the emotions and the stories
03:18and all of that is to put it behind us
03:20and really be ready to play what's in front of us.
03:24Demba, like you said, obviously your focus will be
03:27what happens over the next five days
03:29and getting the better of Australia.
03:31But can you take a step away
03:33and acknowledge the importance of this match
03:36for the future of South African Test cricket
03:38and also for, say, other Test nations
03:40who struggle to play Test cricket as regularly
03:43as, say, in India, Australia or in England?
03:45Yeah, I think, I mean, if I think of the way things are back home,
03:51I think there have already been benefits
03:53for the people back home.
03:55I mean, if you think of the number of people
03:57who are flying in here to be a part of this occasion,
04:00to hopefully witness some sort of history,
04:03I think that already shows the positive impact
04:05that the game is having on the country as a whole.
04:10I think, obviously, with the younger guys as well
04:13being swayed by T20 cricket and all of that,
04:15I think, you know, the efforts that we're doing
04:17within the Red Bull space
04:19hopefully will inspire those younger guys
04:21to want to play Red Bull cricket.
04:24And I think you would have seen, with our squad
04:26going to Zimbabwe, the young guys,
04:28Luandri Petrorius, Diawalt, Brevis,
04:31all those young guys who are coming in,
04:33Lesejo as well, Senukwane,
04:35I think that will kind of keep them chomping at the bit
04:38in terms of Red Bull cricket.
04:39So, I think things are good.
04:42Obviously, also, as us being not as economically strong
04:46as the other nations,
04:48we want to make sure that we are competitive,
04:51we want to make sure that we're doing the right things
04:53on the field.
04:55Yeah.
04:57Just in the same way as you explained
05:00the decision for Ngidi over Patterson,
05:02can you talk a little bit about Milda at number three,
05:04what you're expecting there, what can he deliver?
05:06Yeah, I think, I mean, Mulder is quite young, obviously,
05:09in that position.
05:12But I think, you know, having played with Mulder,
05:15having seen him the way he's kind of grown,
05:17in the last two years within the Red Bull format,
05:20it's about giving him a lot more confidence,
05:23keep backing him, and just allowing him to do what he does best.
05:27So, I mean, I think, yes, he has an opportunity
05:31in a personal situation.
05:33But I think he can take comfort from the fact that,
05:36you know, the guys are backing him.
05:38We just want him to go out and play his game.
05:42Timber, can you just talk about how you think the team
05:45has evolved and improved since the 22-23 series,
05:48last time you played Australia?
05:51Last time?
05:52Oh, that wasn't a good time in Australia.
05:55I think, I mean, after then, I mean,
05:59there's a couple of more new faces from that series.
06:03I think for a lot of us who were there,
06:06it was a little bit of an eye-opener playing against Australia,
06:11seeing how their batters went about their business,
06:14facing their bowlers, and how, you know,
06:17you're always under pressure,
06:19and you kind of had to find ways to exert pressure back on them.
06:22And I think that, at least for me,
06:24gave me an opportunity to kind of have a look at my game,
06:29to see where I can improve,
06:31and hopefully try to emulate the performances
06:34that those batters were putting up at that point in time.
06:38And I think probably also in terms of the way
06:41that we wanted to play our cricket as a whole,
06:43it influenced that.
06:44And I think a guy like Shukri coming in,
06:46it was kind of at the right time, if I could say that.
06:50I mean, that when he came in, it was encouraging guys
06:53to be themselves, to play their best cricket.
06:55So, yeah, hopefully, you know, those memories are behind us.
07:01We can create some new ones now.
07:03But I think it was a critical point in our journey as cricketers.
07:09But for me, particularly, definitely.
07:12Tempa, what do you say to the likes of Ryan, Tristan, David,
07:16who are facing the Australian side in test cricket for the first time?
07:19Or do they see enough of them in, you know,
07:21white ball cricket, franchise tournaments
07:23that you really don't have to say too much?
07:25Yeah, I mean, all those guys will be up for it.
07:28Ryan, Tristan, they'll all be up for it.
07:31I think, like for us, I don't think it's any different, to be honest.
07:35You accept that it's going to be tough.
07:37But at the same time, you've got to have the belief
07:40that what you have is enough.
07:43I think belief is a big thing.
07:45A lot of the athletes will tell you that.
07:47And I think from a team's perspective,
07:49we don't expect the guys to be any different.
07:51Just be the player that you know, and we need you to be.
07:55The way Rickleton has come into the team
07:57and almost cemented his position there, the opener,
08:01there's a reason behind all of that.
08:03So whatever he's done to do that, let him continue that.
08:06And Stabo as well, exciting talent.
08:09You know, he has an opportunity for him to show
08:11why he's highly revered within our circles.
08:18Temba, you've this week spoken to Sport24, Guardian, ESPN.
08:24You did a piece with the BBC.
08:25To everyone, yes.
08:26Yeah, basically.
08:28I mean, is it easy to kind of stay above the narrative?
08:31Like your story, where have you come from?
08:33Are you able to kind of differentiate between
08:35focusing on what's happening also?
08:37How significant this is?
08:39Are you able to find that balance?
08:41Yeah, I think that's a good question.
08:43It's quite challenging, to be honest.
08:45I mean, yesterday we were at the captain's dinner
08:48with the Hall of Fame inductees.
08:51And that question got asked.
08:53I think, I mean, I try to focus on the cricket as much as I can,
08:58to be honest with you.
09:00I try not to get down too much into the emotional side of it.
09:03But it is important.
09:05It is a thing.
09:06I try to soak it in as much as I can in that moment.
09:10But then kind of switch into kind of the playing mode.
09:13So, I think like I said yesterday, I mean, my story has been an interesting one.
09:19It's been a beautiful one in a lot of ways.
09:21And, yeah, hopefully there's a lot more happy moments within it.
09:26Is it heavy to hold all that?
09:28Not, I mean, if you asked me three or four years ago,
09:31I'd probably say that, Daniel.
09:33But probably not so much now.
09:34I think I look at it with a lot more gratitude, if I could say.
09:38And I think it's just a part of, I guess, a part of my journey.
09:43Unique to me.
09:44And I think, I guess, it comes with being the first in a lot of things.
09:49So, I mean, now I think I can speak about it openly without much anxiety
09:55or anything like that.
09:56But, yeah, maybe four or five years ago, I would,
09:59I probably wouldn't even answer the question, yeah.
10:03Tim, for South Africans, it almost feels like Australia win ICC trophies all the time.
10:09And, of course, that's not the case with other teams.
10:12And I just wonder, what difference do you think this might make for teams like South Africa?
10:17We saw New Zealand win it the other year,
10:19and I'm not sure it's made that much of a difference for them.
10:21But what would it do?
10:23Yeah, I think, I mean, for us as the players, we know that we can,
10:27what we control is what we do on the field of play.
10:30And for us to remain competitive, for us to be regarded as a top cricketing nation,
10:35we've got to be in these positions where we can go for silverware.
10:39So, I think that's already ticked.
10:41I think, obviously, going over the line, you know, will, is part of the whole story.
10:47And I think for, for this bunch, for this bunch of players, for this group, for Shukri, you know,
10:54I think it will be a massive feather within, within our cap.
10:57So, yeah, we'll always try to focus on what we need to do on the field.
11:02We always speak about excellence.
11:05We always speak about doing something special for, for the country and also for, for each other.
11:10So, here's another opportunity for us to, to do that.
11:13Yeah, on that note, what would it mean to you to end the long wait for a world title for South Africa?
11:24Yeah, I guess it would be special.
11:26I mean, I've already said it's, it's a career.
11:30It's a highlight of, of, of my career.
11:34And I think it would be a nice thing to be a part of that, of that story.
11:38I guess my story, there's a lot of moments of resilience, moments of great determination, all of those type of things.
11:46And I guess it would be a nice if it's backed up with, with, with something.
11:50So, but I mean, that's part of the story, right?
11:53I don't, I don't write that story.
11:55Yeah, I can fantasize, but that's not for me really to, to dictate.
12:00But I think, yes, it will be special for, for a lot of people in a lot of ways.
12:04Timber, on the, on the Rabada situation, have you spoken to him very much about what happened?
12:11And how do you expect him to play tomorrow?
12:15Do you think it will be a motivation for him or added pressure?
12:18Definitely a motivation.
12:20I think, I mean, it's been, it's been a couple of weeks now that I guess everything has unfolded.
12:29Conversations have been had.
12:31He had a conversation with the team.
12:34He put himself on the spot for, I guess, further questioning from any of the players.
12:39And as far as we know, that's kind of behind us.
12:43We've really come here with the focus of what we need to do here.
12:46And I think he's in the best shape that he's ever been.
12:50So definitely motivated.
12:53We also play against the Australians as well.
12:55So, you know, that'll be extra motivation for him.
12:58But yeah, I think he's in, he's in a very good space.
13:01Timber, we saw Shuk spend a bit of time with Rassi in the buildup.
13:08You're good mates with Sia.
13:09Has he sent you a message?
13:11Has he sent you a good luck or just passed on any magical ways to win a World Cup?
13:17No, he actually hasn't.
13:20He actually hasn't.
13:22I should have a word with him.
13:24But yeah, I mean, Shukri had that opportunity.
13:27We kind of laugh at Shukri and ask who called who, you know.
13:31But I mean, he gave, he gave a bit of that feedback from, from how they do things.
13:36And I see he's kind of implemented one of those, one of that within the team.
13:42To answer your question, no, I haven't cherished Sia.
13:46Who lost to your question?
13:48Timber on, on the coach yesterday, I think his line was, he was confident that the team
13:53would be able to exploit any vulnerabilities that Australia has.
13:56Is potentially one of those vulnerabilities a non-specialist opening batter
14:01against the world class attack that you've got?
14:04Have they announced the team?
14:06Not yet.
14:07Okay.
14:08So who would open the betting then?
14:14Constance or Labashane.
14:16Constance or Labashane.
14:17Yeah, I think there's an opportunity there.
14:20I think the conditions as well, I believe, bring us into the game a lot.
14:26With the swinging ball, very different to, to, to, to Australian conditions.
14:31Different to South African conditions as well.
14:34So, yeah, that definitely gives us an opportunity.
14:37I think both teams have formidable bowling attacks.
14:41I think the real opportunity is within the two betting lineups and how they are able to kind
14:48of front up and give their bowlers a score to, to bowl at.
14:54Timber, have you sort of allowed yourself to dream about what it would be like to, to
15:00lift that trophy at the end of this, this match?
15:03Yeah, I mean, you, you picture all of that.
15:06Um, like I said, I mean, it would be, it would be a special moment.
15:12Um, not just for myself, for the team, but also people back home.
15:16Um, like I said earlier, it would be nice to have it a part of, a part of the story.
15:22Um, yeah.
15:27Great.
15:28Thank you very much.
15:30Thank you very much.
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