When Aiden Markram walked off the field at Lord's Cricket Ground on June 15, 2025, he wasn’t just carrying his bat—he was carrying the hopes of a nation that had waited two decades for this moment. South Africa’s 7-wicket victory over Australia in the World Test Championship Final 2025Lord's Cricket Ground wasn’t just a win. It was a reckoning. And no one captured its weight better than Ricky Ponting, the Australian legend turned ICC commentator, who called Markram’s 124 not out ‘among the best I’ve seen on a big stage.’
The Moment That Changed Everything
It wasn’t just the runs. It was the context. South Africa had missed the first two WTC finals. Their Test team had been adrift since 2019, plagued by leadership changes and inconsistent performances. Then, in January 2023, Shukri Conrad took over as head coach and Temba Bavuma was cemented as captain. The transformation wasn’t overnight. But by the time they stepped onto Lord’s, they’d won eight Tests in a row—their longest streak since 2008. Markram’s innings, built on patience and precision, anchored the chase of 285. He faced 238 balls. He didn’t get out. And when the final wicket fell, the South African dugout erupted—not with chaos, but with quiet, tearful relief.Ponting, who captained Australia in 46 Tests and scored 13,378 runs, didn’t mince words. ‘When you look back through big ICC events,’ he said during live commentary, ‘the first thing that comes to mind is World Cup finals. Travis Head’s 137 in 2023. Then the last WTC final—163 by [Kane Williamson]. And this? This is absolutely as good as any of those.’
A Comeback Forged in Doubt
What made Markram’s performance even more remarkable was how close he’d come to being left behind. After averaging just 21.4 in the 2022/23 tour of Australia, he was dropped. Critics called him ‘out of form.’ Some said he lacked the temperament for overseas conditions. For 18 months, he played domestic cricket in South Africa, quietly rebuilding his technique under the watchful eye of provincial coaches. He didn’t beg for selection. He didn’t give interviews demanding a recall. He just kept batting.‘To be able to stand up and perform when your team needs you most is what reputations are made of,’ Ponting added. And that line? It echoed far beyond the commentary box. It was a message to every young cricketer in Johannesburg or Cape Town who’s ever been told they’re not good enough.
The Architects of the Revival
This wasn’t just Markram’s win. It was Conrad’s. Bavuma’s. The entire support staff’s. Conrad, previously the head coach of the Titans, brought structure. Bavuma, South Africa’s first Black African Test captain, brought unity. They didn’t just pick players—they rebuilt culture. Gone was the old hierarchy. In its place: accountability, adaptability, and a relentless focus on Test cricket’s soul.‘They didn’t just fix the team,’ said former South Africa all-rounder AB de Villiers in a post-match interview. ‘They fixed the belief.’
The South African Cricket Association, headquartered in Johannesburg, had spent years trying to recover from the fallout of the 2018 ball-tampering scandal and the subsequent exodus of talent. This victory was their redemption. And it came against Australia—the team that had dominated Test cricket for over a decade.
Why Lord’s Mattered
Home of Cricket. That’s what they call Lord's Cricket Ground. It’s been operating since 1814. No other venue holds the same emotional weight. For South Africa, winning here wasn’t just about the trophy—it was about proving they belonged on the grandest stage, against the toughest opposition, in the most demanding format.The International Cricket Council, headquartered in Dubai, created the WTC to restore meaning to Test cricket. The 2025 final was its third iteration. And for the first time, a team from outside the traditional powerhouses—Australia, India, England—won it.
What’s Next?
South Africa now holds the WTC mace. They’ll defend it in the next cycle, starting in 2027. But the real challenge? Maintaining momentum. Will Markram’s form hold? Can Bavuma’s leadership survive the pressures of global tours? Will Conrad’s system endure when injuries strike?One thing’s certain: the Proteas aren’t just back. They’re here to stay.
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Aiden Markram’s century compare to other great WTC final innings?
Ricky Ponting directly compared Markram’s 124* to Travis Head’s 137 in the 2023 World Cup final and Kane Williamson’s 163 in the 2021 WTC final. All three were match-defining, under immense pressure, against top-tier opposition. Markram’s innings stood out for its composure under South Africa’s long drought and the weight of national expectation—making it arguably the most emotionally significant of the three.
Why was Aiden Markram dropped from the 2022/23 Australian tour?
Markram was dropped after averaging just 21.4 across five innings during South Africa’s tour of Australia in 2022/23. He struggled against pace and bounce, and selectors opted for more aggressive openers. His omission sparked debate, especially as he later returned to domestic cricket and rebuilt his technique—leading to his pivotal role in the 2025 WTC final.
What impact did Shukri Conrad and Temba Bavuma have on South African cricket?
Appointed in January 2023, Conrad brought tactical discipline and a long-term vision, while Bavuma fostered unity across racial and generational lines. Together, they ended the team’s cycle of instability, restored confidence in Test cricket, and led South Africa to eight consecutive wins—culminating in their first WTC title. Their leadership marked a cultural shift, not just a tactical one.
Why is winning the WTC at Lord’s so significant for South Africa?
Lord’s is cricket’s spiritual home, and South Africa had never won a major ICC final there. They’d lost finals in 1998 and 2000. Winning here, against Australia, on a pitch that favored pace and bounce, symbolized their arrival as a modern Test powerhouse—not just a team with potential, but one with proven resilience on the biggest stage.
What does this win mean for the future of Test cricket?
South Africa’s triumph proves Test cricket can still deliver drama, depth, and emotional resonance. With a non-traditional powerhouse lifting the WTC, it challenges the notion that only India or Australia can dominate. It validates the ICC’s two-year cycle format and could inspire other nations to invest more seriously in the longest format.
How does South Africa’s eight-match winning streak compare historically?
South Africa’s eight consecutive Test wins in 2025 tied their second-longest streak, behind only their record of nine wins between 2008 and 2009. It’s their best run since 2009 and the longest by any team since Australia’s nine-match streak in 2021. The consistency under Conrad and Bavuma has been unprecedented in the modern era for any team outside the top two.