People are happier
making memes and setting narratives – a team, often labelled as Chokers today
rose at Lords – in a 3 and something days, they created history winning World
Test Championship. Congratulations South
Africa, Temba Bavuma & his team and more so, Aiden Markram.
At Lord's, South Africa secured the most significant moment in their cricket history with the World Test Championship title. It was not without nerves – but it was happy ending. Aiden Markram took them to the brink with an epic 136, an innings that will go down as the country's most important in Tests, before the winning runs were driven through the covers by Kyle Verreynne to spark the celebrations. No longer was the 1998 ICC Knockout, with its various names and caveats, the only reference point for South Africa's global success. After so many near misses, they had a crowning moment. It will be a hugely popular victory, too, as the underdog story so often is, and as part of the wider narrative around the health of Test cricket outside of the Big Three.
For all the success Australia have gathered over the years, this will be agonizing experience as they had a solid 74-run first-innings lead after a stellar bowling performance by Kagiso Rabada. After allowing Aussie tail to wag and chasing a total of 282, looked formidable, if not impossible, given their first innings dismal performance of 138. After losing Ryan Rickleton at 9; Wiaan Mulder at 70 – Capt Bavuma and Markram stitched a near 150 run partnership and Markram got out when the win was just a shot away. Glorious performance indeed.
Anybody writing on
South Africa cricket has in mind that 2nd Semi final of 1992 Benson
& Hedges WC at Sydney. That
particular WC had more innovations than any other. It was the first at which
teams used coloured clothing, the first to use white balls (two at each end so
they didn't get grubby), and the first to use floodlights and also pinch
hitters as openers. It also saw the introduction of a new rain rule. By the end
of the tournament, the rule was utterly discredited. England, put into bat by
Kepler Wessels, scored 252 for 6 in their 45 overs, the innings curtailed as
South Africa had bowled their overs slowly.
South Africa's
chase started well but then they lost their way until Jonty Rhodes got them
back on course. With five overs remaining, they needed 47 to win, and that had
been reduced to 22 from 13 balls when the rain, which had been falling for a
few minutes, grew heavier. Then came the
1 ball 22 run target !!
Also remember that Semi Finals at Eden Gardens on Nov 24, 1993 – CAB Jubilee Tournament (Hero Cup). Chasing a mere 196 in 50, they needed just 6 in the last over. Azhar's unexpected gambit perplexed many, but it also got the crowd buzzing. Richardson had been run out in the previous over, but South Africa didn't learn any lessons. With Tendulkar bowling seam-up, they managed only three, and De Villiers became the seventh run-out of the game. Keeper Vijay Yadav was vociferous and Tendulkar had golden arm.
Today’s victory was fashioned by the first South Africa captain to win a World Cup, albeit at age-group level, Aiden Markram who led South Africa's Under-19s to World Cup glory in 2014 and was also their leading run-scorer and third overall. Statistically it is close 10000 days (9722) between South Africa's two ICC titles - the Champions Trophy in 1998 and the World Test Championship (WTC) in 2025. The man at the helm, who had been booed often – Temba Bavuma has won 9 Tests and the other was a draw as South Africa’s captain. Only England's Percy Chapman (9) had as many wins as Bavuma in his first ten Tests as captain.
Happy for Team
South Africa and its unwavering supporters.
14.6.2025
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