Mark Boucher has lauded the fighting spirit and character shown by Test captain Dean Elgar and his deputy Temba Bavuma following the Test series win over India.
The home team sealed a come-from-behind 2-1 series success against arguably the best team in the world after victory by seven wickets at Newlands on Friday.
The Proteas had to chase totals of more than 200 – 240 and 212 – to win the last two matches on tough batting surfaces at the Wanderers and Newlands respectively.
Elgar played a match-winning knock of 96 not out in Johannesburg while Bavuma hit the winning runs in both games and averaged more than 74 with the willow in the series.
Speaking to reporters after the series triumph, Boucher said: “It’s been great. It doesn’t surprise me, because you’ve got Dean as well who is that sort of character and he led from the front.
“You’ve got Temba as the vice-captain who is the same fighter with that spirit in him, so you’ve got two leaders like that who the guys are going to follow.
“The guys stood up with regards to their own games as well.”
Boucher with his experience of playing 147 Tests in his career admitted he was nervous heading into the fourth day at Newlands with his team still needing 111 runs to secure the victory with eight wickets in hand.
The Proteas mentor said: “It was quite a nervous day for the changeroom.
“As a coach you actually have your hands tied behind your back and you can’t go out there and change the game at all, but from a nerves perspective, it was one of my more nervous Test days.”
