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Markram led the chase with his match-winning 136 in the fourth innings. ©Getty Ten minutes before the start of what became the last day’s play in the WTC final between South Africa and Australia at Lord’s on Saturday, two smartly suited women strode purposefully towards a spot on the outfield near the Compton Stand. There, on a black box the best part of a metre high, lay the ICC Test mace, its sterling silver and gold plating glinting in the bright sunshine of a morning that had started under a sky cloyed by cloud, a remnant of Friday night’s thunderstorm.…

Cummins was questioned on whether this defeat and the upcoming Test series against the West Indies, which marks the beginning of the new World Test Championship cycle, will serve as a much-needed reset for the squad. “To make these finals, it’s normally off the back of being really strong at home, but you’ve got to win some away series, and good chances we get to do it straight away. So, three Test match series, you’re straight into a really important cricket,” Cummins noted. “I think that’s one of the good things about the World Test Championship — it’s every Test…

WORLD TEST CHAMPIONSHIP, 2025 FINAL Aiden Markram’s excellent 136 helped South Africa end a 27-year-old ICC trophy drought © Getty Aiden Markram’s excellent 136 helped South Africa end a 27-year-old ICC trophy drought as they beat Australia by five wickets to clinch the World Test Championship Final on the fourth morning at the Lord’s on Saturday (June 14). The Australia pace trio all picked up a wicket each, only to delay the inevitable in a 15-minute extended morning session. With 69 more required to win at the start of the penultimate day of the Test, South Africa remained slow but…

JOIN OUR WHATSAPP CHANNEL South Africa defeated defending champions Australia by five wickets at Lord’s to win the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25, securing their first ICC title in 26 years. The historic victory was powered by a brilliant 136 from opener Aiden Markram, whose calm and determined innings led South Africa to chase down the 282-run target on Day 4 of the final. South Africa last won an ICC trophy in 1998, when they lifted the inaugural Champions Trophy (then called the KnockOut Trophy). Resuming the fourth innings at 213/2, with just 69 runs needed for victory, South…

For Bavuma, the next opportunity may come at a home ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, which South Africa will co-host alongside Zimbabwe and Namibia in 2027. He believes the momentum of the WTC victory can be carried into the white-ball formats as well. “I think it’ll be massive. I mean, that tournament, we’re definitely setting our sights on doing special things in that tournament,” Bavuma noted. “There is still a way to go until then. Shukri (Conrad) obviously comes in now as the white-ball coach, so we’ll see what plans that he has, who his personnel will be. But yeah,…

Star batter Steve Smith has avoided surgery after suffering a “gruesome” compound dislocation but is almost certain to miss Australia’s first Test against the West Indies. Smith’s availability for the upcoming three-match series in the Caribbean, starting in Barbados on June 25, remains in major doubt. “I’d say first Test maybe unlikely, and then go from there, but it’s bit early just to tell,” Australia captain Pat Cummins said after the shock World Test Championship final loss against South Africa on Saturday.In a major blow for Australia, Smith hurt his right little finger in a crucial moment of the Lord’s…

JOIN OUR WHATSAPP CHANNEL The International Cricket Council (ICC) has turned down the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) request to host the upcoming World Test Championship (WTC) Finals, confirming that the next three finals — in 2027, 2029, and 2031 — will continue to be held in England, according to a report. Despite repeated calls from the BCCI to rotate the WTC final among different Test-playing nations, the ICC has decided to maintain its current strategy of hosting the final in England. As reported by The Telegraph UK, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has already…

Pat Cummins believes Australia’s Test team is headed for “reset” as they look to give opportunities to players they hope will give them another crack at a World Test Championship in two years’ time. Australia let slip a second consecutive World Test title on Friday and Saturday as South Africa completed a stunning fightback at Lord’s to claim their first major ICC trophy led by opener Aiden Markram’s sensational 136. Day 4 Wrap | Markram magic seals Test title for Proteas His contribution was in stark contrast to Australia’s new-look top three who managed 49 runs between them across both…

WTC FINAL, 2025 Kyle Verreynne and David Bedingham embrace after securing the win © Getty South Africa won their first ICC trophy after 27 long years, beating defending champions Australia by six wickets in the ICC World Test Championship Final 2025, at Lord’s. Having fallen short at the final hurdle on many an occasion, South Africa overcame everything thrown at them to take home the crown. Here’s how the South African players reacted to the win: Kyle Verreynne I was just thinking, please, I don’t want to go bat, I don’t want to go bat. Obviously, Aiden (Markram) did bat…

JOIN OUR WHATSAPP CHANNEL Four Pakistani players — Sahibzada Farhan, Mohammad Nawaz, Khawaja Nafay, and Saud Shakeel — are all set to take part in the upcoming Guyana Global Super League (GSL), scheduled to be held from July 10 to 18. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has granted No Objection Certificates (NOCs) to allow the players to participate in the T20 tournament. Saud Shakeel will represent the Guyana Amazon Warriors, while Mohammad Nawaz and Sahibzada Farhan have been picked up by the Hobart Hurricanes. Khawaja Nafay has also been approved to participate, although the franchise he will play for is…