EXCLUSIVE: Everything changed when Shukri Conrad took over, says Makhaya Ntini

The unmitigated success of the Proteas since Shukri Conrad took over has been nothing short of incredible, according to legendary South African fast bowler Makhaya Ntini.

It was no joke when Rob Walter resigned as the Proteas limited overs coach on April 1, and it meant a month later Conrad was given the role across all three formats.

Conrad was first appointed as Test coach in February 2023, and at the time Cricket SA (CSA) had envisioned that two different coaches would handle the limited overs and red ball formats.

It came as quite a shock then when Walter resigned in the middle of his contract, but given the success Conrad had with the Test team it made sense to give him the extra responsibility.

With the Proteas having gone on a bulldozing run in the World Test Championship (WTC) over the last two years, which culminated in victory over Australia in the final at Lord’s in June, Conrad is approaching the levels of reverence of Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus.

Shukri’s Leadership Transforms South African Cricket

“You know, since Shukri took over, things started to shape in the right direction. And then everybody buys into it. Understand Shukri knows these guys from Under-19, all the way now to the senior provinces,” the 48-year-old Ntini told SportsBoom.co.za in an exclusive interview.

“He grew up with them and then he raised them. So when he took over as a senior coach, that's when everything started to gel for South Africa. And then this year, man, it's unbelievable. Especially when it comes to the red ball."

“It doesn't matter how they got to the final, but the most important part is that they won the Mace.”

Lungi Ngidi’s Impact in the WTC Final

Ahead of the WTC final, Conrad made a controversial call to include fast bowler Lungi Ngidi in the playing XI ahead of Dane Paterson. Ngidi had played no red ball cricket since August 2024 heading into the match, while Paterson played six county games for Middlesex, three at Lord’s in April and May alone.

While Ngidi was comfortably the worst Proteas bowler in the first innings, he roared back to life in the second dig with 3/38, which included the key wicket of Steve Smith for 13 as South Africa went on to win by five wickets.

Nitni explained why he thought the decision to pick Ngidi paid off.

“[It went] Absolutely well. I always say that, the first innings of a Test match, everybody is so energetic and wants to do well."

“But where it counts the most is the second innings of the Test match, where you look at which team needs to defend or which team needs to, whatever, chase. So another thing, the way that Ngidi performed in that one, it’s the one that actually made South Africa win the test.”

Kagiso Rabada: South Africa’s Bowling Spearhead but Ntini still has one over him

One bowler who certainly was not a controversial inclusion was Kagiso Rabada. As the leader of the bowling attack, the fearsome fast bowler claimed match figures of 9/110.

While glowing in his praise of Rabada, Ntini made sure to remind the youngster that there has only even been one South African to have claimed a 10-wicket haul at Lord’s. That of course remains Ntini himself.

“I need him on my side of the table, not only on the ‘fifers’ side of the table. I’m still alone on the ‘tenfers’ [at Lord’s]."

But I think, Kagiso, we all know that he’s the spear of South Africa. He’s one of those guys that when you don’t have him in a team, the team doesn’t look balanced. He’s our performer. We actually believe that if he’s around, there’s every possibility that we will win the Test."