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Arab News
2 days ago
- Sport
- Arab News
World Test Championship shows its worth at Lord's
In the first day's play in the 2025 World Test Championship on June 11 at Lord's, South Africa bowled Australia out for 212 in 56.4 overs. In the final session of the day, South Africa's response stumbled badly, as the innings slumped to 43 for four against Australia's relentless trio of quick bowlers. At that point, there was a feeling that this could be a mismatch. For the latest updates, follow us @ArabNewsSport It was not so much that South Africa lost early wickets, it was the lack of positivity in the approach. In a callow innings, Wiaan Mulder scored six runs in facing 44 deliveries, looking barely capable of putting bat on ball. The responsibilities of captaincy seemed to weigh heavily on Temba Bavuma, who scored three from 37 deliveries. Bowlers were in the ascendency throughout the day, high class shining though. Kagiso Rabada had come into the match under a cloud, following a one-month ban for a positive testing for cocaine use. His response was to claim five wickets for 51 runs. These took his tally of Test wickets to 331, past Allan Donald on South Africa's all-time list, cementing his reputation as one of cricket's finest fast bowlers. Conditions were helpful to bowlers, cloud cover persuading Bavuma to ask Australia to bat. The decision was vindicated until that late flurry of lost wickets in South Africa's response. In addition, it must be said that Australia's batters looked underprepared. The team had not played a Test match since February. Several of them had been playing in the Indian Premier League, but that has different demands to Test cricket. Admittedly, two batters had been acclimatizing by playing English county cricket but that has lower demands than the Test arena. On the other hand, South Africa's squad had united to play warm-up matches in England. Nevertheless, there was a feeling at Lord's that the first session on Day 2 could prove fatal for South Africa. Despite middle order doggedness prior to lunch, South Africa's last five wickets fell for only 12 runs in the face of an inspired spell by Australia's captain, Pat Cummins, who claimed six wickets, the last of which was his 300th in Test cricket. Once again, the Test format displayed the capacity to ebb and flow, which can make it so compelling, prompting references to chess on grass. This match had strategic moves in abundance. Australia held a lead of 74 runs in the first innings. In the second innings, its task was to bat South Africa out of the game. Towards the end of the second day that plan was in tatters, the response 73 for 7, a lead of 147. A partial recovery was effected, which took the score to 144 for 8 at the close of play, a lead of 217. On the basis of South Africa's first innings performance this seemed to be enough for many observers. Conditions still favored the bowlers, while batters had displayed faulty techniques. Questions were raised about Australia's selection policy and the possibility that the places of several in their batting line-ups were in jeopardy. On Friday morning the sun shone and the characteristic Lord's hum of chatter and anticipation was in full symphony. It was presented with a stoical last wicket partnership by Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazelwood. Obvious to everyone were the existence of more favorable conditions for batting, the ball moving less in the air and off the pitch. The pair compiled a mature partnership of 59 from 135 balls. Both knew that conditions had eased and that, as bowlers, they needed as many runs as possible to provide a cushion. They were taking the WTC seriously. Hazlewood's annoyed swish of the bat when he was out on the stroke of lunch suggested that he felt that more runs were needed. If he and Starc, who scored 58 in a three-hour innings, found batting easy, so might the South Africans. It was difficult to find many to agree with him. Common consent was that a target of 282 looked beyond South Africa, even allowing for the improved batting conditions. A more positive intent was apparent in South Africa's second innings, despite the loss of two wickets to Starc. Then Aidan Markham and Bavuma, carrying a hamstring injury, forged a partnership of 147. Markham has always been a striker of handsome cricket shots, but his Test career has been very stop-start. Gradually, the pair pushed South Africa towards an unexpected victory, grinding Australia down to end Day 3 on 213 for three, 69 runs short of victory. On the fourth day those runs were eked out despite much obvious nervous tension and strangling tactics from Australia. Finally, a victory was achieved that was met by an outpouring of relief and ecstasy from South Africans and for South Africa, whose men's team's failures to win global tournaments when well set are well documented. The emotions and reflections of those directly associated with this win have been covered in another Arab News piece. Now that the dust has settled on the match and the South African team have returned home to a heroes' welcome, a further reflection on what it means for Test cricket is required. The TWC has not been a universally popular competition. South Africa is now its third different winner after New Zealand and Australia, who each beat India in the two previous finals respectively held in England in 2021 and 2023. England's representatives have been scornful about losing points for slow over rates in the TWC. India, no doubt, is more than a little disappointed not to have won the title. This time they have only themselves to blame for failing to reach the final, winning only one of their past eight Tests. The smaller Full Members, such as Zimbabwe, are disappointed not to be included at all. There is an imbalance in terms of the number of Tests played, length of series and who plays whom. Nevertheless, despite its flaws, the WTC provides a competitive framework in which Test cricket is played. There has been talk of its reform, changing its cycle and even moving the final to India, evidenced by a formal request from the Board of Control for Cricket in India to do so. It is rumored that Jay Shah, chair of the ICC, will propose to the ICC Board that Lord's should host the final of the next three cycles up to and including 2031. This bastion of class and elitism, proclaimed 'the home of cricket,' had to allow its treasured property to be overtaken by Australians and South Africans, but it provided a class environment. Ultimately, South Africa completely took over the ground as they partied joyously. Surely, it can be no bad thing for this to happen, the team and country assuaging past heartbreaks and providing new hope for South African cricket across all formats and all parts of its society.
The Citizen
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Citizen
Donald: Proteas' Test final win ‘slams door shut on past pain'
The Proteas team won the World Test Championship final following a five-wicket victory against Australia at the weekend. Allan Donald, who was a central figure in one of South African cricket's most heartbreaking and painful moments, says the Proteas' World Test Championship final win last weekend takes away some of the pain of the 1999 World Cup exit and other big tournament losses. The victory by the Proteas against Australia at Lord's in the Test final was South Africa's first major triumph in men's cricket since 1998 when the national team won the Champions Trophy. On Saturday at Lord's Temba Bavuma's team beat Australia by five wickets to end years of heartbreak for the national team at several T20 and ODI tournaments. 'The gate is now shut' 'To get that over the line shuts the door that's over 30-odd years old,' Donald told website 'It's something that's taken a lot of pain away as you know. Not really going to go into that detail [laughs], but you know what I'm talking about with us and ICC events.' Donald was famously run out in the final over and South Africa needing one run to win an ODI World Cup semi-final against Australia at Lord's in 1999, following a mix-up with Lance Klusener, which resulted in a tied match that ended South Africa's run in the tournament. 'It really is a day [last Saturday] for the past players who were involved in the '99 World Cup and the guys who followed them … I think we can safely say now that gate is now shut,' added Donald. Allan Donald and Lance Klusener walk off the field after the Proteas' win against Sri Lanka at the Cricket World Cup in England in 1999. The two men would later be involved in a now infamous run out in the semifinal against Australia. Picture: Ross Kinnaird /Allsport The former fast bowler said the Test final win could be a catalyst for more success. 'They've broken this deadlock now. I think this will… and hopefully open the door for more success. I already look forward to the 2027 [ODI] World Cup, I think it's going to be a really interesting one. A lot of those players who played today [the World Test Championship final] will be involved in that World Cup.' Another Proteas player, Rassie van der Dussen, who's also experienced plenty of disappointment in Proteas colours, but in more recent times, said the win at Lord's was also for all the past players. 'This is a feat that goes hand in hand with the song that the Proteas sing: the fire stays burning, to those before us, and those to come, we play together as one,' he told 'This win will make people sit up' 'Through all those ICC events and all those knockout matches that we lost, there are moments and guys that feel responsible for that, and this puts to bed that.' The top order batter added the victory would restore South Africans' belief in the Proteas team. 'I think what impact it will have is it will make people take Proteas cricket seriously again. The reason I say this is because in the last few years, even though we've got to the semifinals, people always compare cricket and rugby. It's like the cricket is good, but rugby wins World Cups type of thing. 'I think this win now … It's going to make people sit up and say, you know what? 'They're actually doing some good things at Cricket South Africa, and the Proteas are actually doing some good things. I think it's a culmination of years of, I want to say graft, and years of being honest, and putting in good work, and getting the right people in the right places, and years of good guys just putting their head down, and putting in the work, and keeping believing. 'It's a culmination of all that, because like I said, in the last few years, it's always been like, the Springboks are the main thing, and I'm not taking anything away from them, obviously. We all love our rugby, and what they've done for the country has been amazing. 'But I just think this win is going to … we haven't won four World Cups yet … but almost in a way, just put us on the same level, and people that realise that, listen, cricket is also serious about what they're doing.'
Indian Express
4 days ago
- Sport
- Indian Express
‘South Africa's WTC Final triumph has taken away 30-odd years of pain,' says Allan Donald
South Africa broke their rather infamous title drought with a clinical five-wicket win over Australia in the World Test Championship Final. The country has produced many a great player since its last ICC title triumph back in 1998 and among those who arguably had to endure the biggest heartbreak of them all is fast bowling Allan Donald, who now says that this victory has acted as an antidote to that. 'It's a massive, massive day in South African cricket, it's a massive day in South African sport. It's something that unites this country so closely. To get that over the line shuts the door that's over 30-odd years old. Or maybe I've jumped the years a little bit, but it's something that's taken a lot of pain away as you know. Not really going to go into that detail (laughs), but you know what I'm talking about with us and ICC events,' Donald is quoted as saying by Cricblog. Donald was part of the 1992 World Cup squad that fell victim to some miscalculations on the part of those deciding a revised target for them when rain interrupted the semi-final against England. They went from needing 22 to win off 13 balls, then suddenly needing 22 off seven and then even that being revised to 22 needed off one ball. More prominently, Donald was the non-striker who didn't commit to the one run that was needed to win when the brilliant Lance Klusener took off from the other end in the 1999 World Cup semi-final against Australia. He lost his bat and was run out, the match ended in a tie and Australia went through as they had finished above South Africa in the Super Six stage. 'This team, this group have shown, in the Test Championship, in the cycle, that they've had to win eight Test matches in a row… just showed immense character, immense character,' Donald said.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Sport
- Time of India
Bravo, Bavuma's boys
Times of India's Edit Page team comprises senior journalists with wide-ranging interests who debate and opine on the news and issues of the day. South Africa became Test champ thanks to grit & patience. Pointers for a young Indian team Choker' is the unkindest of labels in sport. It means you have the talent, but not the temperament to win, especially when it matters most. It means your defeats are caused as much by your opponents as by the demons in your head. It is a terrible cross to bear and post-apartheid South Africa carried it in cricket for nearly three decades. Starting from Allan Donald's needless run-out against Australia in 1999 ODI World Cup semifinal to their capitulation from a dominant position against India in the 2024 T20 World Cup final – the Proteas frequently settled for failure when success looked eager for an embrace. In the World Test Championship final against Australia at Lord's, South Africa rewrote the script, buried the tag of 'choker' forever. They were up against an opponent which relishes the big stage and seldom concedes an inch. But this time captain Temba Bavuma and his men didn't need any. In a high pressure encounter, where every delivery was fiercely contested over four days, South Africa played the game, ignored the occasion. Opener Aiden Markram's 136 will rank among the greatest Test innings of all time. Paceman Kagiso Rabada (5/51 and 4/59) was the knife that cut through Australia. But it was injured captain Bavuma's 66 that was inspirational, typifying the new determined South Africa which deservedly became champions. Hopefully, the triumph will also act as a unifier in a country increasingly torn apart by differences within. South Africa's triumph also carries a lesson or two for a largely inexperienced Team India touring England. Australia were the favourites to win. But S Africa bowled with fire, batted with patience and discipline. They never gave up. They believed. Captain Gill and company would do well to imbibe these traits on a tour that will test them hard. Facebook Twitter Linkedin Email This piece appeared as an editorial opinion in the print edition of The Times of India.
Hindustan Times
6 days ago
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
'Rubbish': Kagiso Rabada blasts South Africa 'didn't have strong opposition' talks after WTC win; 'To beat Australia...'
The history of fast bowling in South Africa is phenomenal, going back several generations through the likes of Allan Donald, Makhaya Ntini, Dale Steyn — and in recent years, Kagiso Rabada. Rabada went where none of his predecessors have gone before, winning a top-tier ICC trophy, leading South Africa's charge at Lord's as they beat Australia to win the World Test Championship. In the final itself, Rabada was the lead man, taking 5 wickets in the first innings and adding on 4 more in the second. In the wake of a controversial month for the lead man, this was a statement performance, creating history for his team. In the wake of the result, Rabada understood the importance of the win to the team — but also didn't hold back from firing shots at their critics, pointing out that South Africa achieved the pinnacle of Test cricket despite the constant doubters and those who would knock downt heir achievement. 'I can't describe in words how it feels at the moment. Obviously extremely happy, throughout this entire season we've played really well, we've worked really hard. I think we deserve to get into this position,' said Rabada on his on-field interview. 'People were saying we weren't playing good enough opposition, but I think that's rubbish. We came here and we played the best team. Australia have been magnificent all season, and we had to be on our A-game to beat them,' said the 30-year-old, who was their leader with the ball as he finished with figures of 9-110, bowling his heart out throughout. South Africa were considered underdogs in this match, given a relatively straightforward run to the WTC Final. Be that as it may, lifting the trophy meant playing their best cricket on the biggest stage, something that has evaded the team for 27 long years. South Africa's winning streak, that saw them unbeaten in their last four series, across eight Test matches, was extended with this win at Lord' South African cricket administration has made strong points about how they receive fewer marquee series against the big three cricket nations from one end, but were also at the same time criticised for not facing the strong opposition enroute to the final. Once in the final, it didn't matter to Temba Bavuma and his men, who put forward a fantastic performance to keep fighting back and staying alive, taking the bull by the horns and completing a memorable, historic Test victory.
