Latest news with #WTC25
TimesLIVE
3 days ago
- Sport
- TimesLIVE
Proteas won public back and put demons to bed: Rassie van der Dussen
Proteas batter Rassie van der Dussen believes that winning the World Test Championship (WTC) at Lord's last week will inspire the South African public to take the Proteas seriously again. He believes the victory will go a long way healing scars for former stars like Dale Steyn and AB de Villiers, who were among many who suffered disappointments in 27 years of near-misses for the national team at major tournaments after South Africa's readmission to international sports in the early 1990s. Cricket in the country also endured a steep downfall in the recent past due to a host of factors, mostly the serious governance issues that plagued Cricket South Africa (CSA) in the early 2020s. The Proteas went from having big sponsors to none, as potential investors sought to distance themselves from the troubled sport. Like the sponsors, interest from the public dwindled. A ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ for South African sport ๐ฅณ๐ฟ๐ฆ #SSCricket | #WTC25 โ SuperSport ๐ (@SuperSportTV) June 14, 2025 In the last two to three years, administration at CSA, after changes in personnel, has improved. Van der Dussen โ who was given a hybrid rather than full-time contract for 2025-26 to spend more time in global T20 competitions and has accepted losing his red-ball place to emerging players โ believes the team won the hearts of the public again with their superb victory in a glorious WTC final. South Africa came back from the dead for a five-wicket victory against Australia at Lord's. 'I think it will make people take Proteas cricket seriously again. In the last few years, even though we [the Proteas] have got to [World Cup] semifinals, people always compare cricket and rugby,' Van der Dussen said. 'It's like a cricket is good, but rugby wins World Cups type of thing. "๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐!" ๐ฅณ๐ถ #SSCricket | #WTC25 โ SuperSport ๐ (@SuperSportTV) June 14, 2025 'After all the stuff the CSA board went through in the early 2020s and all that political drama, it's almost like people weren't taking CSA, and the Proteas by extension, seriously. They were like, if you win, it's a bonus. 'Even the narrative leading up to this final, was like, 'Yeah, the Proteas only played the lesser teams and snuck into the final'. It's like, what do you have to do to get the credit you deserve? 'I think this win now is going to do that.' Van der Dussen believes CSA's turnaround has been integral in supporting the work of coach Shukri Conrad getting the Proteas flourishing again. 'They're actually doing some good things at CSA 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 getting the right people in the right places; years of good guys putting their head down and putting in the work and keeping believing.' "They always know better than the coaches anyway." ๐คฃโค๏ธ There's something special about this @ProteasMenCSA outfit ๐ #SSCricket | #WTC25 โ SuperSport ๐ (@SuperSportTV) June 14, 2025 After Kyle Verreynne hit the winning runs to secure the Test mace, former players, including Steyn and De Villiers, made emotional appearances around Lord's. Van der Dussen believes that the Proteas winning the WTC is an achievement that not only belongs to the 15 players who were in the squad in London, but also to the likes of Steyn and De Villiers, who helped pave the way for this success. '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'. 'The song started in the times when the Proteas fire started with [2003 to 2014 captain] Graeme [Smith] and AB and Dale โ that batch. I think it's actually AB who was the main driver behind it. Kagiso Rabada gets by with a little help from his Proteas friends 'We haven't even been playing with each other for a long time and we produce this โ I don't think that's normal.' Sport 8 hours ago 'So I want to say it started in 2010, somewhere there. It was really just a song acknowledging, as the words say, the guys who had been there and to the guys who are going to come. 'And just an acknowledgment of that, if you get to sing that song, you're a cog in this engine that keeps going, and it's not yours to keep. It's making the most of it while the sun is shining on you and trying to better the environment and the team and leave the team in a better space. 'But acknowledging there's going to be someone after you too, who's going to pick up the mantle.' 'There were 15 guys there [in the squad at Lord's] but I think it's come such a long way in putting to bed a lot of things the guys have been dealing with and carrying on themselves.' 'Through all those ICC events and all knockout matches we lost, there are guys who feel responsible and this puts to bed that.'
India Today
4 days ago
- Sport
- India Today
Top 5 captains of WTC 2023-25 cycle
Top 5 captains of WTC 2023-25 cycle June 14, 2025 By Akshay Ramesh Temba Bavuma led South Africa to the World Test Championship title, ending the nation's 27-year wait for a major trophy Bavuma, the first Black African captain of the South African men's team, was also their first to win a major ICC trophy South Africa defeated Australia in the WTC 25 final, ending a thrilling two-year cycle Here are top five captains from the 2023-25 cycle The South African captain led in eight Tests, won seven of them and remained unbeaten. 1. Temba Bavuma The Australian captain finished with 9 wins in 16 matches, which includes a series win over India at home 2. Pat Cummins The England skipper won nine out of 17 Tests, but lost seven, two morre than Cummins in the 20233-25 cycle. 3. Ben Stokes Rohit won 8 out of 17 Tests. However, he became the first India captain to fail to qualify for the WTC final. 4. Rohit Sharma Sri Lanka's skipper won 6 out of 12 matches, losing six in the WTC 2023-25 cycle 5. Dhananjaya de Silva
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Business Standard
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Business Standard
Here's why ICC president Jay Shah is getting trolled after WTC final
The ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2025 final between South Africa and Australia, which ran from June 11 to June 14, saw history being created as the Proteas finally shed their chokers tag to win their first ICC trophy in 27 years, beating Australia by five wickets to lift the mace. The Ultimate Test was packed with iconic moments โ from Rabada's and Pat Cummins's fifers to Aiden Markram's record-breaking century and Proteas skipper Temba Bavuma's fighting fifty despite an injured hamstring. The final also featured big names in attendance, including the latest inductees into the ICC Hall of Fame and ICC president Jay Shah himself. Now, days after the WTC final concluded, the ICC released the highlight video of the all-round action from the match. But to their disappointment, instead of getting praised, fans have started trolling the ICC and its president Jay Shah over the content of the video. The 45-second video heavily featured ICC president Shah, with less focus on anything else. Fans and journalists called the video PR, stating they didn't know the final was between Jay Shah and Jay Shah. Check the full video below: A fantastic #WTC25 Final at Lord's with the @proteasmencsa lifting the mace on day four after defeating the defending champions @CricketAus โ ICC (@ICC) June 17, 2025 Fans' reaction to the video Several users criticised the promotional video for giving excessive screen time to BCCI secretary Jay Shah, overshadowing the actual cricketing action. A user called it a 'Jay Shah PR video with a cricket match in the background,' while others pointed out that players like Temba Bavuma and Aiden Markram appeared far less frequently. The Facebook page 'What Cricket' sarcastically awarded Shah the 'Player of the Match.' Other users also questioned the ICC's intent, calling it a highlight reel for Shah rather than the World Test Championship. One user went as far as demanding Jay Shah's resignation, calling the video unprofessional. South Africa finally crosses the final hurdle In a historic triumph at Lord's, South Africa clinched their maiden ICC World Test Championship (WTC) title by defeating defending champions Australia by five wickets, ending a decades-long wait for a major ICC trophy since their 1998 Champions Trophy win. The contest, full of twists, seemed to favour Australia at the halfway mark, as they bowled out South Africa for just 138 in the first innings, gaining a 74-run lead. However, the Australians faltered in their second outing with the bat, managing only 207 and leaving South Africa a challenging target of 282. Rising to the occasion, South Africa's batters put on a spirited show. Aiden Markram anchored the chase with a sublime 136, while captain Temba Bavuma provided stability with a composed half-century. Their partnership laid the foundation for a memorable run chase that sealed a famous win and carved a new chapter in South African cricket history.
TimesLIVE
5 days ago
- Sport
- TimesLIVE
Proteas triumph shows the importance of a fairer international schedule
South Africa's glorious championship-winning moment at Lord's came against backdrop of concerns about the Test format, that should provide food for thought for the International Cricket Council and particularly the sport's three wealthiest nations, India, Australia and England. Proteas players and coaches have made clear that they want to compete in more Tests. 'It's always been my most important and favourite format,' said Aiden Markram, the player of the match in the five-wicket World Test Championship final victory over Australia. 'Naturally, playing fewer games is not really on us, it's just sort of the cards you get dealt. But it's really important, in my opinion, to keep Test cricket as the number one in South Africa.' Markram and others in the Proteas set up have made clear that they understand the dynamics of the international calendar, which in the last few years has been dominated by series's between England, India and Australia. India, faced Australia Down Under last year in a five match series that drew enormous crowds and are due to face England later this week in another five match series. A ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ for South African sport ๐ฅณ๐ฟ๐ฆ #SSCricket | #WTC25 โ SuperSport ๐ (@SuperSportTV) June 14, 2025 England head to Australia at the end of the year for the Ashes, another series comprising five matches. South Africa meanwhile, don't play a Test at home again until September next year. The feast that follows this summer's famine, will include eight Tests in 2026/27, with three match series's against both England and Australia. 'The schedule is what it is, we'd love to play more red ball cricket,' said Proteas skipper, Temba Bavuma. However, the absence of Tests this year, is because of two lengthy back to back tours to Pakistan and India, that starts in October and ends in India in December. With another edition of the T20 World Cup also scheduled for next February, Cricket SA, has shifted the start of the SA20 to Boxing Day. That decision has drawn criticism, but CSA which is a majority shareholder in the tournament, wants to continue to prioritise it, because of its growing economic importance to the sport in the country. Proteas coach Shukri Conrad, while continuing to advocate for Test cricket, has also made it clear, cricket would almost cease without the SA20. Those economic realities don't worry the Big three. And because in the last few years they've scheduled even more matches against one another, the already shrinking period for Test cricket becomes even smaller. "๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐!" ๐ฅณ๐ถ #SSCricket | #WTC25 โ SuperSport ๐ (@SuperSportTV) June 14, 2025 It's what made the comments from former England captain Michael Vaughan and former Australian coach Darren Lehmann so galling when they criticised the teams the Proteas beat to reach the WTC final. 'I can promise you now that we'd love to play against everybody more often, especially if there's some big money series so that we can also make some money,' said Proteas batting coach Ashwell Prince Conrad was characteristically forthright about the scheduling. 'We play whatever is put in front of us. There are a lot of things we'd like, but we can't get,' Conrad said as the confetti rained down on him at Lord's. 'We play the cards we are dealt. And then, it's not what you're dealt, it's how you play those cards. We have done that nicely thusfar.' It is up to the ICC and the 'Big three' to ensure there is a fairer schedule and that matches and series' involving them aren't the only Test cricket that is played. 'I want people to fall in love with first class and Test cricket again. And they will,' said Conrad. 'The spin-offs are immense. T20, the most popular format, benefits if you have a strong first class system, and a strong Test team.'
Time of India
5 days ago
- Sport
- Time of India
Watch: 'Tears, Test cap, and a big thumbs up' โ Dale Steyn's raw reaction goes viral after South Africa's WTC win
Dale Steyn was in tears after South Africa's WTC in over Australia at Lord's (Screengrabs) Former South Africa pacer Dale Steyn couldn't hold back his tears after the Proteas defeated Australia by five wickets to win the World Test Championship (WTC), ending a 27-year-long drought for an ICC title. 'What do you do? What do you say? It's incredible,' Steyn told Star Sports. 'I'm sitting at home. I have my cap here. I'm extremely proud. I'll take my son for a walk. Life will carry on,' said Steyn, who played 93 Tests for South Africa and picked up 439 wickets. Tears of joy from #DaleSteyn ๐ฅบ He witnessed the heartbreak, lived through the near-misses and now, he saw history being made as South Africa lifted their second ICC trophy after 27 years. ๐๐ฟ๐ฆ #WTC25 #SouthAfrica #Champions โ Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) June 15, 2025 The fast bowling great struggled to control his emotions, bursting into tears live on air. He wiped his face with a tissue, proudly showed his old Test cap, and gave a big thumbs up to the camera. At Lord's on Saturday, South Africa defeated defending champions Australia by five wickets to claim the WTC mace. Opener Aiden Markram starred with a magnificent 136, guiding South Africa to a memorable win by lunch on day four after chasing down 282 in 83.4 overs. Lobo Predicted It, Again: South Africa's Historic WTC Win vs Australia Veteran left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj was also overcome with emotion. In tears of joy, he said his dream had come true โ winning a Test championship at Lord's just before Father's Day. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like L'evoluzione del Crossover. Nissan Scopri di piรน Undo 'This is even more special because my family is here with me. It's my first one as a father, and my dream was to have my daughter with me, playing on the outfield at Lord's, with a winner's medal on her,' said Maharaj. One of the most iconic images from the victory was of captain Temba Bavuma holding the WTC mace in one hand while his son held the other. 'Fatherhood has definitely changed me as a person. Even the team says it's made me a better man. It's special and gives you someone else to play for,' Bavuma said. The WTC-winning South African squad, led by head coach Shukri Conrad, will return home on Wednesday and are expected to address the media at OR Tambo International Airport.
