India vs South Africa: It’s time we drool over our own players, says Proteas coach Shukri Conrad

South Africa coach Shukri Conrad let his frustration out over his players being under-rated following an innings-and-32-run win against India in the first Test in Centurion.

He said debutants Nandre Burger and David Bedingham have shown that it’s time the country’s cricket pundits “drool over” their own rather than appreciating the overseas players only.

With veteran Dean Elgar, who will retire after the series, scoring 185 and Marco Jansen making a career-best 84 not out, South Africa posted a mammoth 408 runs for a 163-run lead on the third day.

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Their pacers then bundled India out for just 131, with only Virat Kohli (76) resisting their surge to victory.

Burger took four for 33, giving him seven wickets on debut, while fellow left-armer Jansen took three for 36 and first-innings hero Kagiso Rabada grabbed two for 32 to add to his five first-day wickets.

“This win was massive for us and what makes it bigger is that it makes sure India have never beaten us in a Test series here,” Conrad told reporters.

“We know what a quality side India are, but we also know what we are,” the coach said after South Africa’s first innings win over India since 2010 at the same venue.

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“We are a brilliant team at home and we have really gelled as a unit. A lot of the time that has been about freeing the guys up, allowing them to be the best versions of themselves.

“I think it was Harsha Bhogle who asked if South Africa is producing players at all. Now we have shown we do. This is not to undermine others but for far too long, as a group we are so humble to talk up other players that we don’t give credit to our own players,” Conrad said.

“Nandre is massive and Bedingham too … its time we start drooling over our players.

“A bit like our debutants and bit like Dean, they have been phenomenal. Yes, we have to do some tinkering and put succession plans in place and when we had debuts to certain guys, we make sure all elements are in their favour.”

“These guys are absolutely phenomenal. And we have put succession plans in place. You need a bit of luck and things will fall into place,” Conrad said.

South Africa have won three Tests in a row following his appointment as red-ball national coach at the start of the year, ending a five-match winless streak.

Conrad also praised Elgar and termed him a “deserving” Player of the Match and said retirement must have spurred him on.

“May be retirement decision was everything about the way he played. Dean’s record, second to Graeme (Smith) among opening batters. Something we want to start highlighting. The team first is obvious.”

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