South Africa coach issues passionate message to Proteas

By Jonathan Healy, at Lord's

South Africa coach Shukri Conrad wants his players to embrace the prospect of taking on Australia in the ICC World Test Championship Final at Lord's and not let nerves or the enormity of the one-off Test affect his side.

The Proteas arrived in London having finished on top of the World Test Championship standings and on the back of seven straight Test triumphs, but enter the Ultimate Test as the underdogs against a powerful Australia outfit that holds the mace following their victory over India at The Oval two years ago.

For many of South Africa's new-look squad it will be their first match at the Home of Cricket and Conrad does not want his team to be overawed by the situation.

"It's difficult not to get the place out of your system. We've almost taken the chance to embrace whatever comes with it," Conrad said at Lord's on Monday when asked about the significance of playing at the iconic venue.

"Just to really embrace the occasion, because it is a huge occasion and we can't wish it away.

"These were some of the conversations that we had last night, around taking it in and just making sure you set yourself down and we'd rather than wish it away.

"There are going to be nerves and the excitement levels are starting to ramp up as you are aware, so we have to embrace the occasion and I would rsther be a part of it than not."

The match in London will also provide South Africa with a chance to break their long-standing drought without a men's ICC trophy, with the side not having tasted success at an ICC tournament since they claimed the ICC KnockOut Trophy event back in 1998.

While Conrad acknowledged the relevance some people may place on this fact, the message for his players has remained constant.

"Most of these guys weren't even born in 1998," Conrad stated.

"I'm here to build this group with anything that's gone before. But again, just like the previous question, you can't wish things away. We want to and we need to win another ICC event.

"Whatever the tags come along, we don't fear that...it's just another occasion to set the record straight and to get that first title.

"And you can only win it if you play finals and the more finals you play, you obviously improve your chances of winning and we've got another chance here."

Former England fast bowler Stuart Broad was at South Africa training at Lord's on Monday, with the legendary right-armer providing some assistance to the Proteas prior to the Test in a part-time consulting role.

Conrad revealed he and his fellow coaches had dinner with Broad on Sunday night and the team received plenty of valuable insight ahead of the one-off clash against Australia.

"It was enlightening," Conrad said.

"We met last night, myself and the coaching group, with Broady for just a casual chat.

"If I didn't call time at 10.30pm, then I think he'd probably still be sitting there chatting to us.

"It was really enlightening and everybody walked away there thinking that was great."