ICC Trophy miseries of ‘Proteas’ found an end after 27years: A dream comes true
Sanjoy Roy
June 16, 2025
South Africa is a full member of the International Cricket Council (ICC) with Test and one-day international status. Cricket in South Africa was established by the British, and the first tour by a side from England took place in 1888-89. South Africa played its first Test match (against a touring England side at Port Elizabeth), becoming the third Test nation. However, in 1970, the ICC suspended the team from international cricket indefinitely because of its government's policy of Apartheid, an overtly racist policy, which led them to play only against the white nations (England, Australia, New Zealand), and field only white players. The team was reinstated in 1991 as a Test match playing nation after the withdrawal of Apartheid policy, and the team played its first official match since 1970 (and its first-ever ODI) against India in 1991. Since the reinstatement, the Proteas have had mixed success. Even when the team had been considered to be a favourite to win big tournaments, good fortune absconded. The South African cricket has produced many greats. Jacques Kallis possibly may be called the best ever to represent them, while Graeme Smith was a leader instrumental in putting them on top, particularly in Test cricket. The list also included many laurels, the likes of Allan Donald, Daryll Cullinan, Jonty Rhodes, Lance Klusener, Shaun Pollock, Makhaya Ntini, Dale Steyn, AB de Villiers, Hashim Amla etc., who on their days are most devastating and resplendent, contributed massively to their present stature.
The 14thJune, 2025 would be a red letter day for South African Cricketing history and for senior Men team that lifted the coveted 3rd World Test Championship (WTC) Trophy in Lords’ Cricket ground defeating Australia by 5 wickets. It was un-freaking and unbelievable that South Africa won WTC 25 title. It is such a glory that South African cricket team mainly the seniors deserved a long ago but not happening due to many invisible factors. The pinnacle of success for South African cricket at last hugged them after a gap of 27 years. They had won first ICC trophy in 1998 known as ICC Knockout tournament (a precursor to the Champions Trophy). Since then, they've faced numerous disappointments, particularly in ODI World Cups and other major tournaments. The history of South African team is wrapped with numerous disappointments, particularly in World Cups and other major tournaments. This victory resembles a significant milestone for the teams that they have historically struggled to convert strong performances into silverware. It is full of mysteries, agonies and frustrations but they never left the battleground, rather reinvigorated and reinforced their repeated endeavors and stuck to task without the desired luck blessing their efforts. A number of times the boat of South Africa team had sunk before reaching the bank. But they never had turned back and allowed the luck to dictate terms on them and ultimately the relentless efforts yielded success. South Africa’s misery -ending win was raw and touching, highlighted by veteran spinner Keshav Maharaj’s tearful words with former captain Graeme Smith.
The journey of disappointments had started from 1992 ODI World cup semi-final match when they had lost the probable winning match against Australia due to rain interruption. When the match had been resumed, South African team was asked to score an impossible task of 22 runs in one ball following duck worth lewis formula. South Africa dominated their group stage in Pakistan in 1996 World cup cricket tournament before falling to a Brian Lara-inspired West Indies in the quarter-finals. In 1999, the South African team tied the semi-final match against Australia but could not qualify for final on a cruel run rate analysis. On home soil in 2003, rain and a miscalculation of the run-rate formula against Sri Lanka led to a shocking group-stage exit. In 2007, they had lost to Australia in the semi-final although they started the tournament very nicely. They performed well in the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup, until New Zealand had beaten them in the quarter final, unfortunately ending their World Cup campaign. The Proteas were once again amongst the favourite in the 2015 World Cup. They had a very good run but it came to an end against New Zealand in the semis. A poor run in the 2017 Champions Trophy followed where they failed to qualify for the knockout stages.
In 2006 South Africa had lost to West Indies in semi –final of Champions Trophy held in India. Batting first they scored 258 /9 but Chris Gayle took away the game from South Africa smashing 133 not out. In 2009, they failed against Pakistan in T20 World cup semi-final and could not score 150 against miserly bowling of Shahid Afridi stopping them to chase a reasonably small total. In 2013; they had lost to England again semi-final in Champions Trophy. At one stage the South Africa was 80/8 but the brave innings of David Miller helped them score 175 runs that were chased down by England easily as Jonathan Trott smashed an unbeaten 82 and England won by seven wickets. South Africa's semi-final curse continued as they failed to get over the line in another crunch match against India in Dhaka in 2014 T20 world cup tournament. South Africa again choked, suffering a 13-run shock defeat at the hands of a spirited Netherlands side in 2022 and failed to qualify for Semis of T20 tournament in Australia. In 2023 ODI World cup, they got defeated again by Australia in semi-final in Kolkata. In a nut shell it needs to be mentioned that South Africa had lost five semi-final matches in ODI World cups held in 1992, 1999, 2007,2015 and 2023 and five semi-finals in Champions Trophy in 2000 , 2002 2006 , 2013 and 2025 while two semi-finals of T-20 World cup (2009, 2014) are lost by them totaling a loss of 12 semi-final matches , two quarter final and a final T20 world cup against India in 2024 before being crowned the trophy of World Test Championship in 2025 on 14th June 2025.
But this time also it was also not easy and cake walk. Australians had made their way full of thorns and difficulties. In first innings, in response to Australia’s moderate score of 212, South African team got bundled out to 138 allowing the kangaroos a lead of 74 runs in the first innings. Although South African bowlers brought them into the game scene when they sized down the Australian team to 73/7 in their second innings, Australians bounced back heavily and took team’s total runs from 73/7 to 207 giving South Africa a total of 282 to chase and win the WTC 2025 .At the initial stage of chasing in 2nd innings, South Africa struggled with the loss of opening batsman and but Markram, with his cool head and back to back partnership with Moulder and skipper Temba Babuma, played the innings of his life to stabilize the South African innings and steered the team to go slow for assured victory. The departure of Temba Babuma had opened the gate of uncertainty of some middle order batters for a slender period of time but it was again Markram who held the nerves and ensured stability with David Bedingham. It is pertinent to note that, in between, Markram and the Skipper Babuma were so special that they had taken the match almost away from the control of Kangaroos and guided the team to almost victory. When the team needed only 6 runs to win, Markram fell prey to a glory shot and got out at 136. Here also, the situation suddenly took a new turn and it was looked gloomy and topsy-turvy as batsmen on crease was not able to push the ball for required runs easily. The nervousness of wicket keeper batter was visibly noticed while David Bedingham who was at the other end had found the situation slightly difficult to sail through as they were not able to rotate or collect the needed six runs easily. Although the victory was very near, it was alike a herculean task. At this point of time, South African team might consider them also lucky because of the wrong decision of a on-field umpire who did not raise his finger against Kyle Verreynne, rather ruled in his favour enabling Kyle Verreynne survive from caught behind appeal as replay proves that the batter had nicked the ball, otherwise the struggles of south Africa would linger. The nevervousness of the South African batters can be gauged from the view of Kyle Verreynne who told “I’m just relieved. I was sitting there, watching the morning session, thinking, ‘please, I don’t want to go bat, I don’t want to go bat.’
Anyway, victory is victory and these show grit, mental stamina the resilience, commitment, no escaping policy from battle field and relentless endeavours of South African team and proving them as successful. It validates the teachings of ‘The Gita’ that ‘ everyone should work ceaselessly without bothering about the results and trying several times despite of repeated failures should be an encouraging exercise as none knows when success would embrace/ knock at the door. The miseries and unhappiness of previous failures faded and many legends of South African team and common people from South Africa came and assembled to witness and welcome the long awaited victory for the South African team in Lords with their own eyes in historic cricket ground of the world. What a moment of Joy, it was for batsmen on the wicket and for all others in the dugout/ supporters in the gallery when last run was taken by South African batters. Emotions erupted in the grounds with South African supporters celebrating across the ground. This victory is very special to all cricket lovers including those watching the match because they defeated the mighty Australia, the defending champion who had ousted South African team several times (04) from ODI World cup semi-finals and it bears a testimony of joy and thus satisfaction is galore for them. South African team had been rated by many people and experts as chokers; their place on the biggest cricketing stage was questioned, and their captain was mocked. But defying all odds, the Proteas emerged victorious and proved their worth. This is why this victory of South Africa at this stage is so special. Kudos to South Africa and Temba Bavuma, who said, ‘this victory would unite the country further’. This win is expected to change the narrative of South African momentum in ICC finals and hopefully, they will dominate the cricket world for a long time now onwards.
The victory was particularly emotional for many former South African greats including AB de Villiers, Graeme Smith, and Shaun Pollock etc remained physically present in the Lords.The winning moment bears special significance as these cricket legends, who never experienced such triumph during their careers, watched from the sidelines/ commentary box while receiving applause from the crowd. Indians are also glad and elated for the victory of South Africa. Sachin Tendulkar wrote on X, congratulating South Africa on becoming World Test Champions, ‘A century that will be remembered, a partnership that turned hope into history’. India’s 2011 World Cup hero Yuvraj Singh congratulated South Africa in style besides many other Indian cricketers congratulated South Africa team for their proud success and glory.
But the victory of South Africa carries a special significance because of its captain Temba Bavuma, first South African first black captain who scripted history. Temba Bavuma showed his maturity, composure and resilience throughout the match and exhibited a high degree of grit while batting. Bavuma, who played the majority of his innings limping with a hamstring was an appropriate metaphor and motivation for the chase and team mates. Despite struggling to run and bat, Bavuma decided to stay on and staggered his innings to a fifty on Friday. Bavuma recoiled and gritted his teeth on multiple occasions but did not give up. Bavuma could easily retire at the Tea break and come back later on after taking medicines, but he chose against it as ‘he and Markram’ believed that they could halt the Australian barrage at Lord's and thus he needs a special mention both as a skipper and batter, leading the team from front . He neither did punch the air in delight nor did he join the rest of his teammates as they sprinted onto the field at Lord’s. He stood still, soaking in the emotions as South Africa clinched the World Test Championship Final, ending a 27-year-long wait. When he finally emerged to collect the medal, the waiting crowds in Lord’s felicitated him with loudest cheer. He had taken South Africa where no other man had: to a major ICC trophy. The occasion was made even more meaningful by the years of near-misses that preceded it, and by the fact that it came under the leadership of the country’s first-ever black African captain. It was a moment of reckoning, a message from Bavuma and his team to a nation still marked by the shadows of its racial history.
(Tripurainfo)
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