South Africa return to Lord's for more WTC Final celebrations
By Jonathan Healy, in London
South Africa's victorious ICC World Test Championship squad returned to the scene of their famous triumph on Monday when they descended on Lord's for more celebrations.
The entire 15-player squad was on hand with the famous mace at the Home of Cricket, just two days after they completed a historic five-wicket triumph over Australia that clinched the World Test Championship Final.
The players and support staff were in good spirits as they came together for one last look at Lord's before they return to South Africa and all-rounder Wiaan Mulder said the celebrations had been spirited.
"It's been a very, very good couple of days," Mulder told ICC Digital at Lord's.
"Celebrations like I haven't had before, so as a team I think we're super chuffed and no better place to do it than at the Home of Cricket."
Mulder admitted he had hardly slept since arriving in London, with nerves leading into the Ultimate Test and the celebrations post-match still taking their toll.
And while Mulder revealed all the players and support staff had joined in the frivolity, he said it was a group of players from Western Province that had led the way.
"I think it's the Western Province crew, to be honest," Mulder said when asked who had been the best celebrators.
"All of them celebrate victory very, very hard. Kyle Verreynne, Dane Paterson, David Bedingham and (batting coach) Ashwell Prince are kind of the leaders of our vibe team, so they have been the guys that have gone all out."
Proteas celebrate World Test Championship triumph at Lord's | WTC25 Final
South Africa players all smiles as they pose with the World Test Championship mace after sealing off a special win at Lord's.
Mulder played alongside Australia captain Pat Cummins and star batter Travis Head at Sunrisers Hyderabad in the recent Indian Premier League and the 27-year-old said he enjoyed getting to know the pair during his brief stint with the franchise.
"Heady is one of the top blokes around and Patty is also a great guy," Mulder said.
"I spent some time with them at the Sunrisers during the IPL and there was a lot of banter.
"I trained a lot because I didn't play a lot in the IPL and I spent a lot of time facing Pat and facing Heady (in the nets), so there was a lot of banter coming into the WTC."
Ngidi, Mulder remove Webster and Head in quick succession | WTC25 Final
Lungi Ngidi and Wiaan Mulder helped South Africa tighten their grip in the second innings with a quickfire brace.
Mulder revealed he had been inundated with messages of support from family and friends back home in South Africa and he had even spoke with Head after the victory.
"I actually spoke to him (Head) last night on the phone," Mulder said.
"He was chuffed for the way it went for us.
'Obviously he was broken that they didn't win, but I think overall, the spirit of the game was really as high or as good as it could be.
"You think about the Aussies, you always think about them as being a little bit nasty at times, but I think these guys are true champions.
"And the way they go about it, the consistency that they bring to every single day and every single moment of the game, just shows why they're arguably the best team, best sporting cricketing team to ever play the game." ICC World Test Championship Final, 2025NewsICC World Test Championship
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