Some Context- First & Foremost
Imagine this. You have a squad full of talented, promising players (youngsters as well as veterans)- each one of whom are capable of winning matches and tournaments at an international level. For years, your countrymen have expected you to win a major ICC tournament.
And why shouldn’t they? For your shoulders carry the weight of a nation, the hopes of millions and for the youth- you’re no less than heroes.
But sadly, those years turned into decades & still no significant output whatsoever turned up from your side. You managed to reach the quarterfinals, semifinals & even finals of the biggest stages, but succumbed to the expectations & pressure. Disappointment doesn’t begin to explain the feeling you have felt for years. Your fellow countrymen have experienced torment & anguish firsthand for what now feels like an eternity.
Monumental Manpower
The squad being talked about earlier was of the South African Men’s National Cricket Team. I personally have been watching South African Cricket for about 18 years now, and whether it be bowling, batting or fielding- they have displayed heart and perseverance on the Cricket field time and time again. The Protean fire has never not burned bright. If you look at their bowling unit- from Ntini’s pace to Pollock’s class to Morkel’s brilliance to Steyn’s accuracy to Rabada's grit-the sheer depth of their pace attack doesn’t quite feel like it has degraded a bit from generation to generation.
And not just bowling, their batting line-up is one of the most legendary ones the world of Cricket has ever seen. Whether it be the batting powerhouse Gibbs, the legendary southpaw Smith, the alien De Villiers, a persistent Amla, or perhaps the best all-rounder of this generation (arguably of all time)- Jacques Kallis, the Proteas really seemed to have it all when it came to batting, as well.
And not just with ball and bat- their team was blessed with the God of fielding- the legendary Jonty Rhodes.
On paper, the Proteas never felt a shortage of skilled players in their squad. They had all the manpower necessary, had the gear and the guidance for winning ICC tournaments.
But then, what went wrong?
So Close, Yet So Far
Over the years, the Proteas certainly have delivered quality cricket in the biggest of stages- whether it be the ODI World Cup, T20 World Cup, Champions Trophy or Test Matches. They have managed to breach into the eliminator rounds of multiple ICC tournaments, but failed to cross the line. And every time a different factor has been responsible for their failure.
But despite all that, the South African side led by their legendary captain Graeme Smith was a different kind of beast altogether. The southpaw didn’t just command respect- he led by example. For nine consecutive years, the Proteas stayed undefeated in Tests. ‘Invincible’ became their middle name. Every top Test team in the world tried their level best but nobody could beat the Proteas- until Kohli & company managed to do so in Nagpur, back in 2017.
Let’s face it. No fort remains unbreached till eternity. Nobody is invincible forever. But the fact that it took so long for someone to make THAT South African side taste defeat- speaks volumes about the level of Cricket they must’ve been playing for such a long time.
Success delayed ISN’T Success denied
The Proteas’ biggest weakness- something that was known worldwide, by now, was- their inability to perform well under pressure. Their tendency to succumb to the circumstances- a characteristic that earned them their nickname- ‘Chokers’.
They had just a handful of men in their squad that had the ability and caliber to grind out through the toughest of game stages and bring the team back from the dead. But sadly, Cricket isn’t an individual sport- it’s a team game. And more often than not, the team that eventually wins is the one who delivers a more balanced, collective effort- rather than relying on some individual’s brilliance.
But call it luck, or call it fate. Call it fortune, or call it destiny- The Gods of this game called Cricket had different plans for the Proteas, this time. This time wasn’t going to be like the previous ones. The sun shone a bit brighter and the stars aligned a little better on the D-Day of the World Test Championship, 2025. The final stage, the last hurdle. The Proteas had to face the mighty Aussies in this one- the same Aussies, which had dominated the game of Cricket since the past three decades. Of Course this wasn’t going to be some walk in the park, but the Proteas didn’t plan on losing this time.
The Battle Begins!
South Africa won the toss and invited the Australians to bat first. Little did the Aussies know what Bavuma’s men had in store for them. The sheer pace attack of the Proteas proved to be a bit too much for even the most veteran Australian players. With Rabada picking a fifer & Jansen gathering three key wickets, Australia found themselves on the backfoot much earlier than they expected. Had it not been for Smith & Webster’s half centuries, the Australian side would’ve probably been bowled out way sooner.
The Aussies put up a total of 212 runs in the first innings.
But as they say, you never win until you actually win. With a world class bowling trio consisting of Cummins, Hazlewood & Starc, the Aussies spit fire on the field. With only 4 batters crossing double digits, the Protean batting was a disaster. Cummins amassed six wickets, and Starc picked two. With just 138 runs on the South African scoreboard, the 2nd innings of the match began.
And this inning was no different than the previous one. South African bowlers did what they knew the best- not letting their enemy settle. Rabada & Ngidi picked a total of 7 wickets, and the Australians were in a situation very similar to the last one. The highest scorer this time was their main bowler- Mitchell Starc, who showed iron will & added another Test fifty under his belt, and Carey contributed significant 43 runs as well. When the dust settled, Australia had scored 207 runs. Combined with their previous lead, the Proteas had to chase a target of 282 runs.
The Last Lap
The opening pair of South Africa- Aiden Markram and Ryan Rickleton came out to bat for one last time. While Rickleton departed early, Markram showed a mighty heart and pure perseverance. That Bavuma- Markram duo looked fearsome. The shot selection, timing, placement of the ball and the sheer power display- everything seemed to be on point. Bavuma completed his half century, before eventually losing his wicket to Cummins.
But not Markram. He went on to score his eighth Test century, and was about to help his team cross the line, but Hazlewood ruined the party.
A knock to remember for ages, regardless.
The winning shot came from Kyle Verreyne’s bat, and the party began. The Proteas celebrated like they had never before. Former legends of their team like Graeme Smith & AB de Villiers were present at the venue, as well. Some were ecstatic, some had tears of joy. As for the fans, their decades of patience had finally paid off. The renowned Chokers were now the World Test Champions.
Bavuma and company lifted the mace, and that was a moment they would savor for ages- that we would savor for ages.
The Final Verdict- Moral of the Story
The Proteas finally winning an ICC trophy- being the underdogs- that too, against the juggernaut Aussies- on the world’s biggest stage, was no less than a fairytale. There certainly were ups and downs during the match but ultimately, South Africa proved to be the superior side.
It’s a tale of patience, grit, and perseverance. It’s a tale that teaches us that effort might not guarantee success, but quitting certainly guarantees failure.
So, to those of you fighting battles in your lives, to those of you who are always willing to try, to those of you who are always honest with your work and never lie- to you, I say, keep going. To you, I say- keep that fire burning bright deep within your heart- even if it takes years, or decades. Because you never truly fail until you give up. Because until death, all defeat is psychological.