The Proteas’ improved showing in the 2021-2023 ICC World Test Championship has been met with a tidy increase in prize money.
They’ll bag $450 000 (R8.8 million) after finishing third during the two-year cycle, improving markedly from the inaugural edition, where a lowly haul of percentage of points won out of points contested left them in fifth place.
The national team improved, notably winning a tight home series against India and brilliantly salvaging the away trip to New Zealand, where they were thrashed in the opening Test before roaring back to square the series.
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Seven Tests were played on South African soil, of which they won six and only lost once.
However, it was their away form that left much to be desired as they lost both their series in England and Australia.
One more win in the UK – which was more likely than a victory Down Under – would’ve bumped the Proteas’ percentage up to 62.2%, enough to claim second place and a place in the final at Lord’s in early June.
Instead, Australia and India will contest the showpiece match, with a winner’s cheque of $1.6 million (R31.7 million) as the dangling carrot.
