Cricket greats like Matthew Hayden and Sachin Tendulkar have applauded Proteas captain Temba Bavuma for steering South Africa to their first ICC World Test Championship title in 27 years.
On Saturday, the Proteas sealed a thrilling 5-wicket win over Australia at Lord’s to claim the historic trophy. Chasing 282 runs, South Africa got off to a positive start on Day 3, with conditions favoring the batsmen.
A crucial 147-run partnership between Bavuma and Aiden Markram brought the team closer to victory. David Bedingham and Kyle Verreynne then helped finish the job, giving South Africa a memorable triumph in the WTC final.
Remarkably, Bavuma battled through a hamstring injury on Day 3, limping between runs but still managing to contribute 66 important runs. Markram shone brightest with a match-winning century.
Australian legend Matthew Hayden was full of praise for Bavuma’s leadership and resilience during the chase.
“What a champion effort. Early on you could see he was struggling with his hamstring, but he stuck it out,” said Hayden, who recently entered the ICC Hall of Fame, in an interview with Cricinfo. “He played smart, simple cricket.”
India’s batting icon Sachin Tendulkar also lauded both Bavuma and Markram for their match-winning performances.
“Test cricket weaves its magic again,” Tendulkar posted on X. “In a final packed with drama, the Proteas showed calm amid the storm. Markram’s cool head and Bavuma’s determination under pressure stood tall in the final innings. A century to remember and a partnership that turned hope into history. Congrats to South Africa, the new World Test Champions!”
