HISTORIC: South Africa seal ICC Test Championship with classic knock from Aiden Markram and inspirational captaincy from Temba Bavuma

No, never say it again that the South Africans are chokers in cricket. At the historic Lords on Saturday in England, riding on the brilliance of Aiden Markram’s unbeaten 136, South Africa defeated favourites Australia by five wickets to win the ICC Test Championship Trophy final.

What does one say about this one massive performance from the Proteas? Riled and ridiculed, tagged as chokers on the big stage and incapable of winning a big title, they showed over the last three days plus how much they have changed to whack the Aussies. For sure, going into the final to decide the Test supremacy, Australia were the favourites. Pedigree and past results, everything was loaded in favour of the Baggy Green Aussies, who were left with drooping shoulders by SA captain Temba Bavuma and his boys.

Yes, this was a shootout of sorts between two captains who come from different backgrounds and bring in different character. Pat Cummins, the seasoned pro versus Temba Bavuma was one of the classics in terms of a leadership contest. If Cummins had shown in the SA first innings that he is still lethal and sliced through the side like hot knife through butter, Bavuma’s boys fought back very well.

Cummins deserved a pat on his back as he took six wickets for 28 runs in 18.1 overs. That saw SA score just 138 in reply to Australia’s 212 in the first innings. If one thought the Aussies were in the driver’s seat, SA proved one and all wrong.

For sure, Bavuma’s side had many match winners, with Kagiso Rabada the speedster also playing a big role in the first innings with a fiver. Yet, for sheer flair and fighting spirit over three days plus the first session on Saturday, South Africa kept going hammer and tong. When Australia had scored 207 in the second innings, it was still a stiff target they had set for the underdogs.

What the South Africans showcased in the big chase, and a historic one, to finish at 282 for five was Markram, who hails from Centurion, scoring a century (136). There have been many top-notch batters from South Africa who have served them well in international cricket. Perhaps, this generation may not have heard of Barry Richards but more of Graeme Smith. Well, there has been a metamorphosis in the SA cricket side. They have been through a roller coaster of emotions in the past, some leaving them distraught.

Perhaps, it needed one solid Test cycle for them to show from 2023 to 2025, they were serious about red ball cricket. For the record, they made it to the ICC Test Championship final first, ahead of Australia. The dream was India would do well but results were so topsy turvy and the massive failure in the BGT Series saw the Aussies seal their place for a contest against SA.

Even as the IPL action was peaking, SA was serious about how they would prepare for this big final. Markram is the hero and is going to be celebrated by a king. But how does one not mention the 35-year-old Temba Bavuma, the right hander from Cape Town, who has been a torch bearer for the Black cricketers in SA.

He battled an injury and still scored 66 runs.  From a historical perspective, Bavuma is big, as he is the first Black to become such a strong leader of the SA cricket side. Rewind to the dark days of South Africa and Apartheid, the world knows how hard it was for them to get back into international fold. The 1992 ‘Friendship Series’ featuring India versus South Africa in South Africa was a watershed moment. Cricket in South Africa, viewed from the perspective of society, was about Black and White. So, this win for a major trophy comes 27 years after the Proteas were admitted back into the international cricket fold.

It takes one massive win and a trophy to fire up the fans back home in South Africa. For cocky nations like England and Australia and ‘strong’ India, financially speaking, this South African success says a lot. Historic, for sure.