- By Venkat Parthasarathy
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I write this with a spring in my step and joy in my heart - South Africa have finally done it. The Proteas have broken the curse. In a moment that will echo through cricketing history, they defeated the mighty and defending champions Australia by Five wickets to lift the ICC World Test Championship mace.
It wasn’t just a win - it was a commanding, clinical, emotionally cathartic triumph. Years of heartbreak, ridicule, and close calls were washed away as captain Temba Bavuma, hobbling but unbroken, raised the trophy that generations of South African greats had chased in vain.
For decades, South African cricket has been a
tale of immense talent, heartbreak, and unfulfilled potential. Emerging from
the shadows of apartheid, their re-entry into international cricket in 1991 was
marked by promise and pride. Yet, through the years that followed, the Proteas
became the embodiment of the phrase “so close, yet so far.” The infamous
moniker of “chokers” clung stubbornly to them like a shadow, haunting their
every ICC campaign.
The heartbreak began with the 1992 Cricket
World Cup, their first major tournament post-readmission. Chasing a place in
the final, they were cruelly undone by the infamous rain rule in the semi-final
against England - needing an impossible 22 runs off one ball after a sudden
shower recalculated the target. It was a bizarre end to a fairy tale run.
Then came the 1999 World Cup, another
semi-final, another heart breaker. The match against Australia is etched in
history not only for its thrilling finish but also for the dramatic collapse in
the final moments. With one run needed from four balls and a spot in the final
on the line, a mind-numbing mix-up between Lance Klusener and Allan Donald resulted in a run-out — and a tie that sent
Australia through. “You just dropped the World Cup, Gibbs,” Steve Waugh allegedly told Herschelle Gibbs earlier in the same
tournament, after Gibbs prematurely celebrated a catch by throwing the ball in
the air, only for Waugh to go on and win the game. Fact or folklore, it
encapsulated the agony of South African campaigns.
Barring the 1998 ICC KnockOut (now Champions
Trophy), where they defeated the West Indies to claim their only major ICC
title until now, the trophy cabinet remained barren. Over and over again, in
World Cups and T20 Championships, they reached the knockout stages only to
falter at the final hurdle. It became a pattern - a cruel cycle that saw
brilliant teams fall just short.
Even in recent years, the pattern showed no signs of breaking. In the 2023 ODI World Cup, held in India, South
Africa enjoyed one of their finest group-stage campaigns in ICC history. They
posted big totals, dominated sides like England and Pakistan, and played with a
fearless brand of cricket that gave fans renewed hope. But when it mattered
most — the semi-final against Australia — the old frailties returned. Despite a
fighting total, a counter-attacking innings from Travis Head and a late collapse in bowling discipline saw
the game slip away. Another promising run, another crushing end.
Then came the 2024 ICC T20 World Cup in the West Indies - and with it,
yet another heart-wrenching finish. In the final against India, the Proteas
were in full control chasing 176, cruising at 148 for 3 in the 16th over with victory seemingly in
sight. But under the weight of history and rising pressure, the familiar
unraveling began. Jasprit Bumrah’s deadly
precision and Hardik Pandya’s
calm under fire sparked a collapse, and South Africa fell 7 agonizing runs short of their first
T20 world title.
Two years, two tournaments, two golden chances — both lost when they were
within touching distance of glory.
And it’s not for lack of talent. The Proteas
have produced some of the finest cricketers the sport has seen over the last 30
years:
·
Jacques
Kallis, one of the greatest all-rounders in cricket history, ended his
career with over 10,000 runs and 290 wickets in both Tests and ODIs.
·
AB de
Villiers, a modern-day batting genius, redefined stroke play with his
audacious hitting and innovation.
·
Dale Steyn,
regarded as one of the most lethal fast bowlers of his generation, terrorized
batsmen across conditions with his pace and swing.
·
Shaun
Pollock, Alan Donald, Makhaya Ntini,
Hashim Amla, Mark Boucher, Faf du Plessis, Graeme
Smith - the list of South African stalwarts is long and illustrious.
·
Kagiso
Rabada and Quinton de Kock
have carried the torch into the modern era, often punching above their weight
in ICC tournaments.
Yet, none of them could lay hands on cricket’s
biggest prizes.
Which is why the 2025 ICC World Test Championship triumph means so much
more. It is not just a victory - it is the breaking of a long-standing jinx.
South Africa, under the calm and composed leadership of Temba Bavuma and the relentless fire of
their pace battery, finally climbed the summit.
Bavuma,
South Africa’s first Black African Test captain, has faced intense scrutiny
throughout his career - often questioned, frequently written off, but never
broken. His calm under pressure, quiet steel, and unwavering belief in his team
helped shape this side into fighters who refused to crumble under expectation.
Battling a niggling hamstring injury during the final, Bavuma still walked out
to bat when his team needed composure - grinding out runs, mentoring his
partner, and anchoring the innings. His tactical acumen, particularly in
managing his bowlers and setting attacking fields, played a defining role in
this historic win. His leadership wasn’t flashy, but it was resolute - the very
resilience that had eluded South African teams for decades.
The final saw the Proteas dominate against a formidable Australian outfit. Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi and Marco Jansen combined for 16 wickets in the match, dismantling top orders with pace, precision, and aggression. Aiden Markram stood tall with the bat, anchoring the chase with a patient century. His match-winning partnership with an injured but defiant Bavuma sealed the deal. It was a complete team performance - a hallmark of every South African great side that came before, but this time, with a fitting ending.
Statistically, South Africa became only the third nation after New Zealand and Australia to win the WTC mace. They finished the cycle with the highest win percentage of 63.2% and clinched crucial series victories. Their resilience, long doubted, was finally on full display.
For the Proteas, this was not just a title. It
was redemption. It was catharsis. It was a victory for Donald and Klusener, for Kallis and De Villiers, for every fan who stayed loyal
through the heartbreaks.
At long last, South Africa has its moment. The eternal bridesmaid has
finally walked down the aisle - not in tears of sorrow, but in tears of joy.
Pics: Internet
