Much was made of South Africa’s run to the 2025 World Test Championship final at Lord’s.
They played only 12 Tests – no team played fewer – and qualified after drawing at home against India and losing in New Zealand, before beating West Indies, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Pakistan.
Mitigation for this latest Test also comes from the fact this is their first in almost a year and the majority of their batters played one domestic red-ball match to prepare.
Australia recently came off an eight-month break of their own and lost to Bangladesh in home conditions, as Conrad was keen to point out.
And last summer’s famous win over Australia and a 2-0 success in India proves they can beat the world’s top teams.
However, this Test only reinforced a worrying trend among South Africa’s batters.
Tristan Stubbs and Ryan Rickelton are fine white-ball players, but Stubbs’ two Test centuries have come against Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, and Rickelton’s against Sri Lanka and Pakistan.
This was an obvious step up.
In the first innings, Stubbs, two overs after Wiaan Mulder had been bounced out, top-edged a pull to fine leg, and in the second he played a loose drive on one.
Opener Rickelton drove and edged at a wide ball late on day two and nicked through a pull in the fourth over on day four.
Similarly, Mulder scored 367 not out against Zimbabwe last year, but Bangladesh are the only other side he averages more than 30 against. His 110-ball stay for 29 on the final day before being strangled down the leg side was at least encouraging.
Wicketkeeper Kyle Verreynne, in contrast, lasted only three balls before nudging Matt Renshaw’s part-time spin to slip. His Test average of 30.14 drops to 28 against Australia and 15 against both England and India.
Conrad said that “a few of the guys need to step up”.
“The real disappointment was the batting in the first dig on a really good wicket,” Conrad said.
“Yes, a world-class attack, but quite a few guys getting starts and not kicking on.”