Temba Bavuma's Test Batting Average Before And After Becoming South Africa's Captain

Bavuma guided South Africa to their first ICC World title (since 1998) by defeating Australia in the World Test Championship final at Lord's, becoming one of the most successful captains in Test match cricket after just ten games, recording nine wins and one draw.

Before taking on the captaincy, Bavuma played 54 Tests for South Africa between 2014 and 2022, scoring 2,797 runs at an average of 34.53. His record included only one century and 20 fifties, with a highest score of 102 not out. These performances often drew criticism for his struggles to convert good starts into substantial scores.

However, since taking the reins from Dean Elgar in 2023, Bavuma has shown marked improvement with the bat, underlining how the South African captaincy has brought out the best in him, scoring 911 runs at an average of 56.93 across ten matches.

Bavuma scored three centuries and five half-centuries during this period, achieving a highest score of 172, showcasing his impact with the bat and leadership under pressure. As a result, he is one of the most successful captain-batsmen currently playing Test match cricket.