Latest news with #Markram
IOL News
10 hours ago
- Sport
- IOL News
You don't go there to get personal accolades, you go there to win
ALL FOR THE TEAM Aiden Markram's refused to take credit despite his match-winning century as he and Temba Bavuma's gritty 66 powered South Africa to a historic World Test Championship victory over Australia at Lord's. Picture: Michael Sherman/IOL Image: Michael Sherman/IOL Though he scored a match-winning hundred, Aiden Markram was reluctant to take credit for his side's victory in the World Test Championship (WTC) final over the weekend. South Africa clinched the WTC final at Lord's on Saturday, beating Australia by five wickets at the home of cricket. Captain Temba Bavuma formed part of the match-winning partnership with Markram in the fourth innings, as the Proteas emerged emphatic winners. Markram scored a sensational 136 and Bavuma made an invaluable 66 batting with an injured hamstring at the other end, as the pair shared a pivotal 147-run stand for the third wicket in pursuit of 282 for victory. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ Markram Reflects on WTC Triumph: A Proud Moment for South African Cricket 'It's huge [winning the WTC]. It is one of the coolest things I've certainly ever done in my life. We as a team are incredibly proud of it,' said Markram. 'To contribute obviously adds to that feeling of course, but ultimately it was about coming back as a winner, as a champion. 'That was always the focus, that was never going to change. The personal performance, like I said, helps, but that's not why we went there. You didn't go there to get man of the match, you go there to win the game of cricket for South Africa.' When Bavuma went down injured early in his knock, Markram revealed what transpired between the pair of them when it was unclear if the skipper should continue.
IOL News
a day ago
- Sport
- IOL News
Proteas hero Aiden Markram felt ‘all of the emotions at once' in career-defining Lord's final century
Aiden Markram takes a photo with Proteas fans at the OR Tambo International Airport this week. Photo: ITUMELENG ENGLISH Independent Media Image: ITUMELENG ENGLISH Independent Media WHEN Aiden Markram walked in to open the batting alongside Dean Elgar in Potchefstroom almost a decade ago, there had been a lot said about his potential, with many dubbing him the next Graeme Smith. After all, Markram had led the South African Under-19s to World Cup glory a few years prior, and sent the country into a state of happiness. On that day in Potchefstroom, Markram's 97 on debut further gave the country hope that it had found its next run machine, one that could potentially reach the heights that Smith achieved in his career. For the next couple of years, he would prove himself against India and Australia at home, bringing up big centuries as he solidified his place as a Test-match opener. However, a couple of years later, international bowlers finally cracked his code and learned his weakness, and the right-hander struggled. Eventually, in an attempt to try and keep such a talented player in the team, he was moved down the order, an experiment that also failed in New Zealand and England as the batter battled to make runs. Now, Markram sits with almost 3,000 Test runs at an average of 36, with eight hundreds, a set of numbers many would have never associated with him, given the hype and expectations that were placed on him. However, in the last two seasons, after being dropped a little over two years ago, he has blasted two centuries, including one in the recently concluded World Test Championship final at Lord's against a high-octane Australian pace attack. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ That knock is dubbed as one of the best innings in history because of the nature of the Test match, in that it was dominated by the bowlers who took 28 wickets in the opening two days in London. Markram scored that 136 (off 207 balls, 14x4) in the second innings following a duck in the first. 'A pair in the final... I don't think I would have slept very well,' he told the media, reflecting on the Test at Lord's. 'The ultimate goal in the second innings was just to get the first run, and then I said from there, I'll sort of tackle the rest and take the rest on. 'So, it was obviously a thought in my mind. Aiden Markram salutes the Lord's crowd after his match-winning 136 for the Proteas against Australia. Photo: AFP Image: AFP 'I think it's a thought in most batter's minds. But that was the initial thing, and then from there, it's just about staying in the game. 'I've said it, that conditions did get better for batting. The sun was out, which makes a big difference in the UK. 'Once we got through that initial sting of the new ball, it felt like we could actually occupy the crease, and we could transfer some pressure back onto them.' By the end of the third day, Markram had reached his century and barely celebrated as South Africa had 69 runs to get to win the match on day four. However, the 30-year-old said that he was emotional after stumps on day three as it had sunk in that he had scored a massive century, and was on the brink of helping the Proteas to the world title. Moreover, the opening batter highlighted his disappointment in not finishing unbeaten, as he was dismissed on a 207-ball 136. 'I think on day three, I was emotional about how things had worked out once I got back into the changing-room at stumps,' said Markram. 'But, I'm trying to get into it where you actually end up not out. I keep getting close and then giving it away. 'Even if the game is done or not, that's what the best players do, so that's sort of what you strive to try to do. Our ICC World Test Champions, the Proteas men, were welcomed in an exclusive fashion at the @SuperSportTV offices at the World of Champions. 🔥🏆#WTCFinal #WozaNawe #ProteasWTCFinal — Proteas Men (@ProteasMenCSA) June 19, 2025
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Sport
- Indian Express
Proteas Homecoming: Airport filled to 3 tiers, old school teammates in crested jumpers, ‘crying or flu' quip by Ngidi and a call to name 9th month SepTemba
The Cape Town international airport was packed to the rafters for three tiers as Temba Bavuma's Proteas landed home after winning the World Test Championship. In a chaotic reception, the ICC trophy winning South Africans were stopped every few metres as Marco Jansen signed every single autograph request and 'OH Temba Bavuma' choruses rung with the whole airport joining in after the cricket team broke the dark spell of 27 years. It's not quite the World Cup of 50 overs, but TV channels emphasised on the word ICC, a trophy that has been storiedly elusive. United in grief of several defeats, the multi racial nation citizens trooped in from faroff places to greet the Proteas. #ProteasWTCFinal #HomeComing #ProteaFire — A Runner With A Struggling Cheque Account (@OfficialVeli) June 18, 2025 Notably, former school teammates of the Champion Proteas showed up in old crested jumpers, and fancy jackets inscribed with new face prints from Lord's, with Paarl school former openers in attendance. Assorted school teams of Bavuma and Markram also came to cheer as the Proteas wearing classy Champion tees lined up and Bavuma lifted the mace again. Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie had rolled out the red carpet, and joined a bunch of fans in singing the Temba-song. A young white fan, Daniel, a diehard Bavuma fan, told Newz Sport, 'Temba, even under pressure – he taught us that he can win it for us. He showed us that we Proteas can win. So now even we think we can win.' Daniel, who has met Wiaan Mulder 4 times, had skipped school though his school teacher quipped on Twitter saying he might need to serve detention. But he was one of many signifying how this triumph could unite a bitterly divided nation of racial tensions. For Daniel had simply won SA the trophy that had eluded generations. We Here 🙌🙌🙌🙌 — A Runner With A Struggling Cheque Account (@OfficialVeli) June 18, 2025 Lungi Ngidi told journalist Likho Mpama he had brieflyspoken to his mother who said she was proud of him and joked that, 'My mum is proud, that's all I needed to hear. I dunno if she was crying or maybe she's got the flu. But it sounded something in between the two.' On the years it had taken to win and the despondency after first innings he said, 'There was no choice but I pretty much had to do it, win. It's sport there's ups and downs. Its just unfortunate that sometimes the downs have been on the biggest stage. But the ups too have been on just as big a stage and look today we have a medal. It was very stressful but I knew that if I got one wicket then I would get another one. Just tried to break that momentum to break the game open. Welcome home you — Werner (@Werries_) June 18, 2025 At the CSA reception, he said, 'We can't fill those shoes of legends. But we are building a legacy of our own. No one can replace Graeme Smith and Jacques Kallis. But we've got our own guys,' he said. South Africa play Zimbabwe in two Tests at end of June, and fans were busy considering logistics of travelling and supporting the team. With stadia being refurbished for the 2027 World Cup, South Africa play no Tests in their December summer this year or until later in 2026 at home. Twitter super fans Sabeeha Majid, Werner and Naeema Benjamin kept the fans updated, and there was a lot of bantering demands of those who wrote off South Africa to apologise. An apology form with multiple choice was doing the rounds. [WATCH] A young Temba Bavuma fan, who can name the whole #Proteas squad, has brought a picture of the champions for the captain to sign at OR Tambo International Airport. @vuyo_macoba reports. — Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) June 18, 2025 While Keshav Maharaj who wears a tiny gold mace pendant as he is a Hanuman devotee posed formally, and Bavuma kept his now-famous shades on, Markram and Ryan Rickelton got frenzied cheers. Ring dances with all the iconic songs had been performing since early morning as the flight landed at 9 am, 25 minutes ahead of schedule. Shakira's catchy ditty in Waka, Waka readily gets plastered on South Africa's cricket triumphs by the rest of the world. It's worth many loops and had its WTC-sized resurrection, since being composed around when Australia last lost an ICC final. But the iconic 'Shosholoza' reached a crescendo when performed and broughtbthe airport to a standstill before the team arrived. Shosholoza which literally means 'keep going forward', has origins in the Ndebele language, and talks of resilience and relentlessness of hard-working miners, urged to keep chugging ahead. It's an earworm to persevere through tough times and even mundane struggles. While it stood for solidarity during the fight against Apartheid, the haunting melody has rung in unity, and Shosholoza gets sung at rugby internationals by whites, Blacks and anyone South African, forming quite an aural dome as the Springbok forward pack moves the scrum menacingly forward. Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie singing #Proteas Captain's name Temba Bavuma!#WozaNawe #ICCWTC2025Final #Gayton #McKenzie — Likho Mpama (@JLikho11) June 18, 2025 South African Comedian Rory Petrez, had spent four days relaying his nail biting anxiety in his car, airing it on youtube. He found a banger on the final day, in his tweet that read: 'I'd like to also add that this is not some limited overs, skop, skiet, donner & hope for the best trophy. It's TEST MATCH CRICKET. The purist & most technical form of the game. Holy s'%#t, I'm so happy. Congratulations Proteas. I love you.' He recalled bunking school to witness the first heartbreak, now famous as '22 off 1 ball.' 'We are champions of the full whole world. We've been waiting fir this since 1992. We bunked primary school in 1992, to watch THAT match. You know THAT 22 off 1 ball match. We are waiting since that day,' he said once it was done. Rugby, cricket, music aren't the only South African passions. Their braai (barbecue) are legendary. And Petrez would chomp into a boerewors (boer = farmer, wors = sausage) roll on camera to celebrate. 'This morning I went and bought championship boerwors. It has champion written on it. And as we were winning I lit the fire and I'm eating the championship boerwors roll.' To ensure the triumph was never forgotten, the comic suggestedcnaming the 9th month 'SepTemba.' 'We need a few rules now to remember this victory to weave into our language. Firstly all rugby players from Springboks down to U7s whenever they catch the ball in the 22 you shout 'Markram'. That game in the swimming pool (water polo) you shout Marco Jansen. That ninth month of the year in every single diary and calendar. It is spellt SepTemba. And everything you buy Boerwors, or mince or chops or potatoes at the shop, you buying it 'by the KG' Rabada.' Celebrations will continue for a few more days.
NDTV
2 days ago
- Sport
- NDTV
Aiden Markram Makes Huge Leap In ICC Test Batting Rankings. Two Indians In Top 10 Are...
South Africa, still basking in the glory of their World Test Championship (WTC) final triumph against Australia, saw the star-studded group soar to new heights in the latest ICC rankings. The International Cricket Council (ICC) issued the updated rankings on Wednesday, and several members of the Proteas cast jumped to new levels in the Men's Test Player Rankings. Player of the Match, Aiden Markram, jumped seven places to the 11th spot, just on the outskirts of the Top 10 rankings. A mere two points separate him from breaching the mark, with New Zealand's Daryl Mitchell occupying the 10th spot with a tally of 725. Markram dazzled with his swashbuckling display with the bat and hammered 136 runs off 207 balls to clear South Africa's route to the coveted WTC mace. Apart from his batting masterclass, Markram chipped in with the ball and snatched two priceless scalps of Steven Smith in the first and Josh Hazlewood in the second. With his impactful performance, Markram leapfrogged a whopping 44 places to move to the 65th spot. David Bedingham chipped in with handy contributions and rose to new levels in the Test rankings. In the first, he single-handedly tried to keep South Africa's innings intact with a resilient 45(111) and then finished the job with his unbeaten 21(49). As a result, he climbed 17 places to 40 alongside Australia's Cameron Green. In the Bowling Rankings, Lungi Ngidi's inspirational 3/38 spell in the second innings helped him climb seven places to 37th place with quicks Lahiru Kumara and Naseem Shah. Kagiso Rabada, who spearheaded South Africa's pace attack and returned with match figures of 9/110, maintained his position at second behind India's Jasprit Bumrah. Australia's seasoned quick Mitchell Starc and all-rounder Beau Webster benefited from their valiance in the WTC final. Starc, who scythed five wickets and struck a crucial 58*, moved to the 10th spot in the Men's Test Bowling and All-Rounders Rankings. Webster, who slammed 72(92) and emerged as Australia's top scorer in the first innings, ascended 13 places to occupy the 70th spot in the Batting Rankings.
Int'l Cricket Council
2 days ago
- Sport
- Int'l Cricket Council
Proteas heroes rewarded for WTC25 Final heroics in latest rankings
Newly crowned ICC World Test Champions South Africa are basking in their glory, with multiple members of their stellar cast at the WTC Final rising in the new ICC Men's Test Player Rankings. Leading the way is their Player of the Match from the final at Lord's, Aiden Markram. The prolific batter has risen seven places to just outside the top-10 in the Men's Test Batting Rankings, with only two points separating the Protea from New Zealand's Daryl Mitchell (725) in 10th. Markram's splendid ton guides Proteas to historic win | Aramco POTM Highlights | WTC25 Final Aiden Markram lead the Proteas push to the ICC World Test Championship triumph with a century for the ages at Lord's. Markram amassed an impressive 136 runs off 207 balls in a masterful display of Test batting to take South Africa across the line in the WTC Final. The 30-year-old, who also nabbed a couple of crucial wickets for South Africa, has also been rewarded in the Test All-Rounders Rankings, rising a whopping 44 places. David Bedingham, who closed the famous win for South Africa, also made a move of note in the Batting Rankings, climbing 17 places to 40 alongside Cameron Green. Carnage to Ecstasy | Relive South Africa's triumph in the WTC25 Final Epic Montage Carnage. More carnage. And then ecstasy. Relive the story of South Africa's monumental triumph with the #WTC25 epic montage. Meanwhile, South Africa fast bowler Lungi Ngidi, who produced an inspirational spell with the ball during Australia's second innings, has also soared in the Bowling Rankings. The right-arm quick climbs seven spots to share the 37th place with fellow quicks Lahiru Kumara and Naseem Shah. Kagiso Rabada, who was South Africa's pick of the bowlers, maintained his second place among the bowlers, next to India's Jasprit Bumrah. For Australia, seasoned speedster Mitchell Starc and all-rounder Beau Webster benefited from valiant displays through the summit clash. Starc produces gritty half-century | Player Highlights | WTC25 Final Mitchell Starc put on a resilient display against an in-form Proteas pace-bowling unit to help the defending champions to a 281-run lead. Starc, who took five wickets through the Test and scored a fighting half-century in the second innings, climbed to 10th spot in the Men's Test Bowling and All-Rounders Rankings. Webster meanwhile, who was Australia's top scorer in the first innings, ascended 13 places in the Batting Rankings. In the ODI Player Rankings, key performers from the Men's Cricket World Cup League 2 action have boasted impressive climbs. Netherlands top-order batter Michael Levitt, who was also handy with the ball, has soared 22 places in the Batting Rankings to go with a climb of 21 among the bowlers and another 27 in the all-rounders charts. Levitt also leapt 11 places in the T20I batting charts to the 30th spot in the tri-series after League 2 play, just below Pakistan's Mohammad Haris. His teammate Noah Croes also jumped 20 places in the Men's ODI Batting Rankings after making a vital fifty from the four-wicket win against Scotland. Nepal's Aarif Sheikh, who top-scored with the bat in the 16-run win over the Dutch, climbs 13 places in the batting charts. Nepal v Netherlands | Match Highlights | ICC Men's CWCL2 2023-27 A second consecutive win for Nepal in their UK League 2 tri-series NewsMen's RankingsAiden MarkramLungi Ngidi
