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India Today
7 days ago
- Sport
- India Today
Aiden Markram hopes WTC Final win helps reignite Test cricket in South Africa
Player of the Match in the ICC World Test Championship Final 2025, Aiden Markram has hoped that the win will reignite the country's passion for the red-ball format. Speaking after the team's first ICC trophy win in 27 years, Markram hoped that Test cricket remains the pinnacle of the sport in his Africa's relationship with Test cricket had been dwindling in recent years. Amongst the teams participating in the World Test Championship, South Africa played the joint lowest number of Test matches—12, alongside Bangladesh. In comparison, Australia and India played 19 matches, while England played Final 2025: Match Report | As it Happened Markram stated that Test was his favourite format and hoped that young cricketers strive for the Test cap in the Rainbow Nation."It has always been my most favourite and most important format. Naturally, the choice of format is not in our hands, it is sort of the cards that you get dealt, really. It is really important, in my opinion, to keep Test cricket as the No. 1 format in South Africa. We understand the dynamics of the cricket world, but it is more about the young guy coming through and for him to consider the Test cap as the most important thing in South Africa. How long he plays for is a completely different conversation nowadays, but the No. 1 priority should be to play Test cricket, and I have always believed that," Aiden Markram said after the WTC right-hander was under the pump while coming into bat in the second innings of the match. South Africa seemed to be down and out of the competition after letting Australia set a target of 282 runs, a sum of runs that had not been chased at Lord's in the last 20 years.A defiant Markram said that answers had hopefully been provided from the team's end, who had been knocking on the doors of multiple ICC finals in recent times."All the questions that have been asked in the past have now hopefully been answered. In my opinion, the WTC Final was going to be the toughest one, as many days of good cricket can only get you results," Markram about the feeling of walking back to the pavilion after getting South Africa within reach of a historic win, Markram said that he wished he could have soaked it in more."I wish I could have (stood there and soaked in the standing ovation). But that is me being me, I was so angry at myself when I got out. But there is definitely one or two memories from that," he Watch
India Today
14-06-2025
- Sport
- India Today
World Test Championship final: After years of agony, it's finally time for Africa
After 27 years of near misses, South Africa's moment in the sun has finally arrived as they got their hands on the elusive ICC title, which had been the reason behind their endless pain and heartbreak over the years. Tema Bavuma and his men finally rose to the occasion, unlike their predecessors and etched their name in the history books by lifting just the second ICC title for their the journey between two titles wasn't the most memorable one for the Proteas, who had to endure eternal agony in pursuit of their one true dream. Every time, South Africa reached closer to attaining the elusive glory, they had to bear the brunt of their ill-fate, brain fade moments and inability to seize crucial Final 2025: Match Report | As it Happened As South Africa finally celebrate their historic triumph, here's a walk down memory lane to incidents when they had to swallow the bitter pill of being 'chokers' time and again.1. 1992 World Cup semi-finalA bizarre rain rule saw Kepler Wessels' team get knocked out of the tournament as a brief rain delay brought the equation down to an improbable 22 runs off 1 ball. South Africa were in the game chasing 253, requiring 21 runs to win from 13 balls with four wickets in hand. However, the rain interruption ended all of their hopes, bringing an unfortunate end to their maiden World Cup campaign.2. 1999 World Cup semi-finaladvertisementNeeding just one run to go into the semi-final in last three balls with just one wicket in hand, the stage was set for South Africa to enter their maiden World Cup final. Lance Klusener (31* off 16) was determined to take his team into the summit clash. However, a terrible miscommunication with Allan Donald left South Africa supporters distraught as an unfortunate run out ended the game in a Australia had finished above them in the Super sixes stages, they progressed to the final and won the trophy, while South Africa were left ruing a golden chance to become World Champions.3. 2015 World Cup semi-finalHaving set a target of 298 runs for New Zealand in a rain-curtailed 43-over game, South Africa fancied their chances to enter the maiden World Cup final. However, Brendon McCullum (59 off 26), Corey Anderson (58 off 57) and Grant Elliott (84* off 73) had other plans and guided New Zealand to their maiden final of an ICC event courtesy of some bizarre errors in the field by the Proteas. The loss left the entire team in despair as players let their emotions out openly in public.4. 2023 ODI World Cup semi-finalA David Miller century helped the Proteas recover from an early collapse and post a total of 212 in 50 overs. Defending the low total, South African bowlers gave their all as they hunted in pack to trigger Australia's collapse. However, once again, the effort didn't prove to be enough as crucial knocks from Mitchell Starc (16*) and Pat Cummins (14*) took Australia over the line.5. 2024 T20 World Cup finalNeeding 27 runs to win off the last 28 balls, South Africa had the T20 World Cup firmly in their grasp with Heinrich Klaasen tearing away the Indian bowling attack. Much to everyone's surprise, Indian bowlers led by Jasprit Bumrah, scripted a comeback for the ages and ended their 11-year-long ICC trophy drought, inflicting the same old agony on South Africans.
India Today
14-06-2025
- Sport
- India Today
WTC final: Aiden Markram came to the crease on a pair, returned as national hero
Aiden Markram, you came out to bat on a pair, but you returned a national hero, said Nasser Hussain at the end of the World Test Championship final on Sunday, June 14. Markram's heroic 136-run knock helped South Africa create history, as they beat Australia in the summit clash of the red-ball played the very best innings of his career, guiding South Africa to a 5-wicket win against Pat Cummins' Australia in the final of the ICC World Test Championship. Markram hit 14 boundaries and kept things in control throughout his Final 2025: Match Report | As it Happened Reacting to Hussain's comments, an emotional Markram said that it was weird the way things work out in cricket. In the first innings, while batting in difficult overcast conditions, Markram returned to the dugout on a 6-ball duck. In the second innings, with better conditions over him, Markram stitched together an innings of a lifetime, handing Australia their first ever final loss in 10 years."Weird how things work out, you get a duck. Ultimately you get luck and it worked out. It will, yes. Lord's is a place where every Test cricketer wants to play. Plenty of South African fans were there and it was one of those special days. It's not always one-sided, you absorb the pressure and it was about maximising the scoring options," Markram told Nasser Hussain in a chat after the praised the leadership of Temba Bavuma for leading the line with his bat. The duo put in an incredible 100+ run partnership, not only steadying the ship, but taking South Africa to their biggest ever chase at Lord's stadium."He is one of the best in the world, we had plenty of banter with him, said to him he is one of the best. Tough to have got over the line. Lot of it came from him, he has always led from the front, found a way to score runs and those sort of knocks are something people will remember you for," Markram Watch
NDTV
14-06-2025
- Sport
- NDTV
Watch: Aiden Markram Gets Emotional After Scoring Magical Ton For South Africa Vs Australia In WTC Final
South Africa's left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj called opener Aiden Markram a "big-match player" as the latter scored a century during his outing in the World Test Championship (WTC) Final 2025 against Australia at the Home of Cricket, Lord's in London on Friday. Markram (102* runs off 159 balls) scripted history by becoming the first Proteas batter to score a hundred in an ICC tournament final. He also became the fourth batter after Jacques Kallis (113* against Sri Lanka in the 1998 ICC Knockout semifinal against SL), Herschelle Gibbs (116* against India in CT 2002 semifinals), and David Miller (101 against Australia in the World Cup 2023 semifinal) to hit a century for SA in ICC knockout matches. Markram's masterclass! #AidenMarkram slams a stunning century as South Africa roar back into the #WTCFinal Will this be the knock that leads them to glory? WATCH DAY 4 👉🏻 #WTCFinal | #SAvAUS | SAT, JUN 14, 2.30 PM onwards on Star Sports 1, Star Sports 1 Hindi & JioHotstar — Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) June 13, 2025 Speaking at ICC Digital after Day 3, Maharaj said, "I saw a different sort of desire and focus in Aiden's eyes today when he came off the field (prior to batting) as I think he wanted to rectify the mistake that he made in the first innings." "Kudos to him to put that into place. He's a big match player and big players rise up to the moment and rectify their mistakes very quickly. There's no better fitting moment for him to get a Test hundred here at Lord's in a final against probably a team that I don't think they've ever lost a final," the Proteas cricketer added. Maharaj also paid tribute to captain Temba Bavuma (65* runs from 121 balls), after his captain showed enormous determination to battle a hamstring injury and played a vital role in the unbeaten stand of 143 that has South Africa close to victory. "He had a little bit of a niggle, but the warrior and fighter that he is was there with Aidan to support it. It was amazing to hear how they complemented each other when they came off at the tea break, just hearing about how they're going to go about their business and understanding that obviously Temba can't run at full tilt, but Aiden embraced that," the 35-year-old player concluded.
NDTV
14-06-2025
- Sport
- NDTV
Aiden Markram's Knock In WTC Final Against Australia Praised By Dale Steyn, Michael Vaughan
South Africa's left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj called opener Aiden Markram a "big-match player" as the latter scored a century during his outing in the World Test Championship (WTC) Final 2025 against Australia at the Home of Cricket, Lord's in London on Friday. Markram (102* runs off 159 balls) scripted history by becoming the first Proteas batter to score a hundred in an ICC tournament final. He also became the fourth batter after Jacques Kallis (113* against Sri Lanka in the 1998 ICC Knockout semifinal against SL), Herschelle Gibbs (116* against India in CT 2002 semifinals), and David Miller (101 against Australia in the World Cup 2023 semifinal) to hit a century for SA in ICC knockout matches. S A U C E 100!!!!!!!!! — Dale Steyn (@DaleSteyn62) June 13, 2025 What a special innings by Aidan Markram .. At the most important time against a World class attack he has produced one of the finest tons in a final .. This is a huge moment for a S.A Cricket .. 2025 is certainly the year of the under dog .. maybe that will continue for the Ashes — Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) June 13, 2025 Speaking at ICC Digital after Day 3, Maharaj said, "I saw a different sort of desire and focus in Aiden's eyes today when he came off the field (prior to batting) as I think he wanted to rectify the mistake that he made in the first innings." "Kudos to him to put that into place. He's a big match player and big players rise up to the moment and rectify their mistakes very quickly. There's no better fitting moment for him to get a Test hundred here at Lord's in a final against probably a team that I don't think they've ever lost a final," the Proteas cricketer added. Maharaj also paid tribute to captain Temba Bavuma (65* runs from 121 balls), after his captain showed enormous determination to battle a hamstring injury and played a vital role in the unbeaten stand of 143 that has South Africa close to victory. "He had a little bit of a niggle, but the warrior and fighter that he is was there with Aidan to support it. It was amazing to hear how they complemented each other when they came off at the tea break, just hearing about how they're going to go about their business and understanding that obviously Temba can't run at full tilt, but Aiden embraced that," the 35-year-old player concluded.
