South Africa came into the World Test Championship (WTC) Final 2025 with firepower on paper, but have played like they’ve left it all in the locker room.
While the Aussies stayed disciplined, it was South Africa’s batting approach that stirred debate. Former England captain Kevin Pietersen didn’t hold back.
Watching the Proteas block out deliveries without intent, he questioned not just their shot selection but their entire mindset. And in a match where every session counts, that kind of criticism hits harder.
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But Pietersen didn’t blindly advocate Bazball either. In fact, his analysis pointed toward something even more fundamental, South Africa’s lack of any tempo at all.
WTC Final: Pietersen unimpressed with South Africa’s lack of intent
Pietersen, speaking during the broadcast, was brutal in his breakdown: “I don’t think they’ve got their tempo right at all. Is this wicket that difficult to bat on? The tempo’s not right because you’ve got to look to score.”
“You’ve got to look really solid in your defence. At the moment, South Africa is just standing there, and just saying to them, ‘Bow to me, you bow to me, you bow to me,’ but unfortunately, in England, and you’re right, I think there needs to be a bit of a mixture [of attack and defence]."
"I don’t think Bazball, it isn’t quite the right way to go about it, but certainly, whatever this is, this is the complete opposite of a perfect tempo,” he added.
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The comment came after a prolonged period of low scoring from the Proteas, who, at one stage, managed just 34 runs in a session while losing three wickets.
Despite a batting lineup featuring the likes of Aiden Markram and Temba Bavuma, South Africa’s scoring rate hovered under two an over for long stretches, putting more pressure on themselves.
Australia, on the other hand, stuck to their lengths, letting the pitch and scoreboard pressure do the work. The contrast in approach couldn’t have been clearer and for Pietersen, that difference was damning.
This wasn’t about style. It was about purpose. And right now, South Africa doesn’t look like a side playing with any.