‘It tasted unsavory’: Bavuma reflects on Conrad’s ‘creeping’ remark after India tour | Cricket News

NEW DELHI: South Africa captain Temba Bavuma has addressed the controversy surrounding Proteas head coach Shukri Conrad’s “creeping” comment during the recent tour of India, admitting the wording was unfortunate while insisting it reflected the intensity of a hard-fought Test series rather than a deeper intention.Go beyond borders with our YouTube channel. REGISTER NOW!South Africa enjoyed a historic campaign in India, securing a historic 2-0 victory in the Test series to end a 25-year wait, before losing the ODI and T20I series. While the tour was largely competitive and respectful, Conrad’s remarks during the second Test in Guwahati briefly diverted attention.

Writing in his ESPNcricinfo column, Bavuma revealed that even he was disturbed when he first heard the comment. “The first time I heard about it, it had an unsavory taste,” Bavuma wrote, referring to Conrad’s statement that South Africa wanted to make India “crawl.”The comment drew comparisons to past racially charged remarks in the game, prompting media scrutiny. Bavuma said he was repeatedly asked to clarify the coach’s intentions. “Shukri was also criticized for his ‘rampant’ remark. I was put under pressure by the media from that side, asking me to clarify the comments that were made,” he said.

Bavuma added that Conrad was in the best position to explain himself and ultimately did so. “I thought Shukri was the man best placed to give context to all this,” he wrote. “Shukri spoke after the ODI series and put this issue aside. Looking back, he said he could have chosen a better word and I agree with him.”The South African skipper described the episode as a reminder of the emotional toll the series took on his group. “I think it just reminded me how tough and competitive the Test series was and what it meant to certain individuals within the group,” Bavuma said.