Ponting dissects Markram's match-defining Lord's innings

London, June 16 (UNI) ICC Hall of Famer Ricky Ponting believes Aiden Markram's 136 in the ICC World Test Championship 2025 Final was comparable to the very best batting performances on the biggest stage.
No stranger to delivering in high-pressure situations, Ponting made a habit of scoring match-winning knocks in the games that mattered the most. None more iconic than his 140 against India in the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup Final in 2003 and 111 not out against England in the ICC Men's Champions Trophy in 2009.
Speaking in the aftermath of the epic World Test Championship Final at Lord's, Ponting had high praise for Markram's cracking ton that helped South Africa lift the mace, placing the knock among
the best centuries that he could recall on the big stage.
'When you look back through big ICC events, I think the first thing that probably comes to mind is World Cup finals,' Ponting told ICC Digital.
'And then probably Travis Head's innings (137) in the World Cup final, and then the last World Test Championship final (163). And this one's got to be absolutely as good as any of those, considering the stage, considering where South African cricket's been over the last couple of years, particularly their Test side,' he said.
South Africa failed to make the WTC Final in the first two editions of the tournament but found a new direction under the pairing of head coach Shukri Conrad and skipper Temba Bavuma in January 2023. The Lord's win was their eighth-successive victory in Tests, one short of their personal best.
One of the changes in the South Africa setup under the new leadership was the return of Aiden Markram, who had been dropped from the tour of Australia in the 2022/23 season after an extended poor run with the bat.
Markram repaid the faith reposed in him with a spectacular 115 on his return in February 2023, and has looked a more determined batter in the red-ball format since, as exemplified by his fighting ton against India on a tricky surface in Cape Town in January 2024 and his Lord's masterclass.
'To be able to stand up and perform like that when your team needs you the most is what reputations are made of. I think everyone's always known how good a player Aiden Markram was,' Ponting said.
'And I must admit, a couple of years ago when South Africa toured Australia, I couldn't believe that Aiden Markram wasn't in that touring squad at all. He didn't even make the squad," Ponting said.
'And here we are a couple of years later and he's played one of probably his greatest knocks. I'm sure if you asked him, he'd probably say that that's the knock that he's most proud of in his Test career, and I am pretty sure his teammates who watched it all unfold would probably say the same thing," he said.
'So, it's a great individual achievement for him, and it's a magnificent achievement for the South African team,' Ponting added.
UNI BM

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

India Today

27 minutes ago

• India Today

Temba Bavuma ruled out of Zimbabwe Tests as South Africa name 1st time captain

South Africa captain Temba Bavuma has been ruled out of the two-Test series against Zimbabwe due to the hamstring strain he suffered during the World Test Championship win against Australia. In Bavuma's absence, Keshav Maharaj will assume the role of captain for the Proteas in the series against Zimbabwe, which will begin on June 28 and go on until July 10. advertisementBavuma sustained the injury during Day 3 of the WTC Final while he was batting during the run-chase against the Aussies. The South African skipper battled through the pain and put on a 147-run stand with Aiden Markram which helped South Africa end their ICC trophy jinx. Bavuma scored 66 in the second innings. South Africa cricket made the announcement on their official X account and said that Bavuma will undergo further tests to know the extent of the injury. "Proteas Men's Test captain Temba Bavuma has been ruled out of the upcoming two-match Test series against Zimbabwe due to a left hamstring strain. Bavuma sustained the injury while batting during South Africa's second innings on day three of the ICC World Test Championship Final against Australia at Lord's Cricket Ground. He is set to undergo further scans to assess the extent of the injury. Keshav Maharaj will captain the side in his absence," read the statement from South Africa cricket. advertisementSouth Africa haven't named a replacement for Bavuma in the squad that contains five uncapped players including Dewald Brevis and Lhuan-dre Pretorius. This will be the first time Maharaj will be leading South Africa in Tests, after having captained them in both ODIs and T20Is. Zimbabwe v South Africa Tests: Full squadsZimbabwe: Craig Ervine (c), Brian Bennett, Tanaka Chivanga, Trevor Gwandu, Takudzwanashe Kaitano, Wessly Madhevere, Clive Madande, Vincent Masekesa, Wellington Masakadza, Prince Masvaure, Kundai Matigimu, Blessing Muzarabani, Newman Nyamhuri, Tafadzwa Tsiga, Nicholas Welch, Sean Africa: Keshav Maharaj (c), David Bedingham, Matthew Breetzke, Dewald Brevis, Tony de Zorzi, Zubayr Hamza, Lesego Senokwane, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Kyle Verreynne, Corbin Bosch, Wiaan Mulder, Prenelan Subrayen, Kwena Maphaka, Lungi Ngidi, Codi Watch

Hans India

38 minutes ago

• Hans India

Kalyan Chaubey has turned AIFF into a 'circus': Bhaichung Bhutia

Kolkata: Former India captain Bhaichung Bhutia highlighted poor management in the All India Football Federation (AIFF) alleged that its president Kalyan Chaubey has turned the sport's national body into a "circus" and he himself does not know what is his plan of 'Vision 2047'. AIFF Vision 2047 is a strategic roadmap developed by AIFF to transform Indian football into a powerhouse in Asia by the year 2047. In a recent press conference, Bhutia pointed at the sad state of affairs of football in the country which has led to many wondering what the future of the sport. 'It is very unfortunate that we are 133rd in rankings. We can all see we are struggling in the Asian Cup Qualifiers. I believe we have a good chance of qualifying but at the same time we have to realise that the Asian Cup now has 24 teams, compared to 16 during my captaincy, so we must qualify. 'Our great President Kalyan Chaubey had earlier said we will be in the top 10 in Asia by 2026. Now he is saying we should have prepared for this 10 years ago. In three years under Kalyan Chaubey, even our women's team has gone down. I think he himself does not know what 'Vision 2047' is,' the former India striker said in a press conference. Following Igor Stimac's turbulent exit and India's elimination from the FIFA 2026 World Cup qualifiers, the team went winless throughout 2024. Their only victory came in March when veteran striker Sunil Chhetri came out of retirement to lead the side to a 3-0 win over the Maldives - India's first win in 489 days. Bhutia compared the current state of the AIFF to a circus and called Chaubey a "joker". 'Anybody following Indian football knows it's a circus right now, and obviously if you put a joker in that position then that is what will happen,' he said. The AIFF president had also accused the Bhaichung Bhutia Football Schools, a chain of commercial football academies run by the former striker, of "taking undue advantage by playing on emotions". Bhaichung addressed the allegations and spoke on the progress of his academies. 'I usually don't talk about Bhaichung Bhutia Football Schools during a press conference but it is high time. We had started the tournament 12 years back and within 2-3 years we decided we needed to be sustainable. That is when we started the after-school programme. 30% of students are on a full scholarship whereas 70% were focused on after-school programmes. We have got 220 coaches, 70 centres and are the biggest grassroots programme in the nation. All the money that comes in goes towards our goal. 'Kalyan had talked about the FIFA Academy, four players were from our school. He talked about the women's academy, our club Garhwal FC had won the tournament in which they (Indian Arrows) finished runners-up (Indian Women's League 2). He himself has not done anything to contribute to football, even when he played he was focused on politics,' Bhutia added.

United News of India

an hour ago

• United News of India

Apollo Tyres extends its strategic partnership with Manchester United Football Club

Kochi, June 20 (UNI) Apollo Tyres Ltd on Friday announced the extension of its strategic partnership with Manchester United Football Club, one of the world's most iconic football teams, for an additional three years. This renewed collaboration underscores Apollo Tyres' commitment to excellence, innovation and shared values with Manchester United. Over the years, the partnership has enabled both organisations to connect with millions of passionate fans worldwide, driving engaging campaigns and delivering exceptional value both on and off the pitch. Since the inception of the partnership 12 years ago, Apollo Tyres has seen a significant boost in brand equity, reinforced by the global visibility and emotional connection associated with Manchester United's loyal fan base. The association has elevated Apollo Tyres' reputation, increased consumer trust, and enhanced its positioning as a leading tyre manufacturer. The announcement follows the visit of Manchester United men's first team players to Mumbai recently. Andre Onana, Diogo Dalot and Harry Maguire visited India to officially launch and kickstart activities for the 5th season of United We Play programme and engage with fans. Neeraj Kanwar, Vice Chairman and MD, Apollo Tyres Ltd said, 'We are thrilled to continue our association with Manchester United, a club that embodies passion, performance and global reach. Our partnership has been instrumental in amplifying our brand equity by aligning with a club that represents passion and perseverance." "Together we will strive to create even more exciting experiences for fans, leverage new opportunities in digital and on-ground engagement, and strengthen our brand presence across key markets. We are also excited to expand our impact through a grassroots football initiative that aims to nurture young talent and promote access to the sport at the community level.' Omar Berrada, Chief Executive Officer, Manchester United added, 'We are delighted to extend our successful partnership with Apollo Tyres, a valued and long-standing member of the Manchester United family. During our 12-year relationship, we've not only created impactful global campaigns but also delivered meaningful initiatives at the grassroots level, from youth development to sustainable infrastructure.' Omar further added 'As we move into this next chapter, we look forward to continuing on our shared legacy -- driving further engagement with our fans around the world and creating lasting value both on and off the pitch.' The three-year extension will include exclusive branding rights, co-branded fan experiences, digital content collaborations and the grassroots football initiative, designed to inspire and develop young football talent while promoting inclusivity and community engagement. UNI DS BM