EXCLUSIVE: ‘Hungry’ David Bedingham wants his Proteas Test place back after twin tons for WP

David Bedingham wants his Proteas Test place back, and the top-order batter says so without hesitation.

“Yeah, massively,” he exclusively told IOL Sport after his twin centuries drove WP Cobras to a dramatic 44-run victory at Newlands on Sunday. “I’m still hungry. I still feel I can do well.”

It’s simple and straightforward, much like Bedingham at the crease when he is in full flow.

There’s no overtly dramatic foot movement or extravagant backlift. And he simplified his technique even further during the winter spent with former Proteas batting coach Dale Benkenstein, who is Bedingham’s mentor at English County Championship side Durham.

💯💯 BEDDERS ON SONG! 🔥

Back-to-back hundreds for David Bedingham! 🏏💙#WPCobras #FaithfulAndForward #BoyInBlue💙 #ThatFeelingofYes #1stClassSeries pic.twitter.com/9i11qYVnjc

— Western Province Cricket Association (@WP_Cobras) September 20, 2026

“He’s done my game wonders and just cleared up my mind massively,” the former Wynberg Boys’ High prodigy said. “I wasn’t happy with — I mean, you can never guarantee runs — but in terms of my technique, overthinking everything, I think I was quite poor last year.

“So I just went back to basics. I think more just like not overthinking every ball, knowing that if you play and miss or play bad shots and you’re still batting, literally the next ball is the most important thing.

“Technically, I changed my trigger/not trigger this whole season. But he just says, as long as you’re watching the ball and not thinking about anything else but that red ball, I think then you’re in a good spot.”

The mindset change has certainly reaped dividends. Bedingham struck over 1,000 runs to lead Durham’s charge back to Division 1 next season, followed by 129 in the first innings and 114 in the second against the Dolphins over the weekend, which saw the 32-year-old pass 10,000 first-class runs.

A HUGE milestone for David Bedingham! 👏

Bedders has reached an incredible 10,000 First-Class runs against the Hollywoodbets Dolphins at YesPlay Newlands Cape Town! 🏏💙

Congratulations, Bedders! 🥳🙌#WPCobras #FaithfulAndForward #BoyInBlue💙 #ThatFeelingofYes #1stClassSeries pic.twitter.com/Atq2J9aW9g

— Western Province Cricket Association (@WP_Cobras) September 19, 2026

These runs could not have been better timed. After playing an integral role in leading the Proteas to their World Test Championship success — Bedingham was at the crease when the winning runs were struck at Lord’s — in the previous cycle, the right-hander was left out of the squads for the tours to Pakistan and India at the back end of last year.

But with the Proteas set to face Australia, Bangladesh and England on home soil this season, Bedingham is certainly back in the national frame. It’s not something he takes for granted, though.

“I had a coffee with [Proteas coach Shukri Conrad] Shuks maybe a couple of months ago, and I said, regardless of what happens, as a schoolboy, I would have taken one Test, so to be able to play 15 is special.

“Obviously I’d love to play more. But if it doesn’t happen, it doesn’t happen. And I think that’s when I play my best, when there’s, if I’m enjoying it, it’s not putting too much pressure on myself.”

Bedingham has also batted at No. 3 for WP Cobras in the first-class series thus far. The shift up the order is intriguing as the Proteas have not settled on their first-drop, and Bedingham could potentially be the latest player Conrad trials in this critical position.

Bedingham is not too fussed about the positional switch and once again has taken a philosophical approach to it all.

“I’ve told Shukri on countless occasions, I don’t care where I bat, I just like to play,” he said. “If they told me to open, I’d open. If they told me to bat ten, I’d bat ten.”