WTC Final, SA Vs AUS Day 3: South Africa On Cusp Of Glory As Markram Stands Tall
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South Africa's Kagiso Rabada, second right, celebrates with teammates after the dismissal of Australia's Nathan Lyon on day three of the World Test Championship final between South Africa and Australia at Lord's cricket ground in London, Friday, June 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
Australia's Mitchell Starc, right, celebrates after scoring fifty runs on day three of the World Test Championship final between South Africa and Australia at Lord's cricket ground in London, Friday, June 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
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South Africa's Aiden Markram, second right, celebrates with teammates after the dismissal of Australia's Josh Hazlewood on day three of the World Test Championship final between South Africa and Australia at Lord's cricket ground in London, Friday, June 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
South Africa's Aiden Markram bats on day three of the World Test Championship final between South Africa and Australia at Lord's cricket ground in London, Friday, June 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
Australia's Mitchell Starc, second right, celebrates with teammates after the dismissal of South Africa's Ryan Rickelton on day three of the World Test Championship final between South Africa and Australia at Lord's cricket ground in London, Friday, June 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
South Africa's Wiaan Mulder reacts as he walks off the field after losing his wicket on day three of the World Test Championship final between South Africa and Australia at Lord's cricket ground in London, Friday, June 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
Australia's Steve Smith reacts in pain as he leaves the field after getting hurt while fielding on day three of the World Test Championship final between South Africa and Australia at Lord's cricket ground in London, Friday, June 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
South Africa's captain Temba Bavuma bats on day three of the World Test Championship final between South Africa and Australia at Lord's cricket ground in London, Friday, June 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
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South Africa's captain Temba Bavuma is attended by a physiotherapist on day three of the World Test Championship final between South Africa and Australia at Lord's cricket ground in London, Friday, June 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
South Africa's Aiden Markram celebrates after scoring fifty runs on day three of the World Test Championship final between South Africa and Australia at Lord's cricket ground in London, Friday, June 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
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Australia's Mitchell Starc, left, reacts as South Africa's captain Temba Bavuma, right, and batting partner Aiden Markram run between the wickets to score on day three of the World Test Championship final between South Africa and Australia at Lord's cricket ground in London, Friday, June 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
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Australia's Nathan Lyon, right, watches as South Africa's captain Temba Bavuma celebrates after scoring fifty runs on day three of the World Test Championship final between South Africa and Australia at Lord's cricket ground in London, Friday, June 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
South Africa's Aiden Markram acknowledges the applause from the crowd as he leaves the field at the end of play on day three of the World Test Championship final between South Africa and Australia at Lord's cricket ground in London, Friday, June 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
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Hindustan Times
35 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Injured Steve Smith going with Australia to West Indies
LONDON (AP) — Star batter Steve Smith and his dislocated finger are going with Australia to the Caribbean. Smith doesn't need surgery on the compound dislocation to his right pinkie from the World Test Championship final at Lord's, captain Pat Cummins said on Saturday. But Smith's appearance in the three-test series against the West Indies starting on June 25 in Barbados remained a major doubt. "I'd say first test maybe unlikely and then go from there, but it's a bit early just to tell,' Cummins said. Smith became the highest non-English run-scorer in tests at Lord's and was hurt at a decisive moment in the final against South Africa on Friday. Standing at first slip and closer to the wickets than usual, his finger was smashed by an edge off South Africa captain Temba Bavuma and he dropped the catch. Bavuma was on 2 and went on to 66 in a match-winning stand with opener Aiden Markram, who scored 136. Smith's finger should heal in two weeks and he could play depending on his tolerance for wearing a splint. He has to wear the splint for eight weeks, which encompasses the entire series. Cummins was grateful that the West Indies tests — their opening series in the 2025-27 WTC cycle — mean they don't have long to lick their wounds after losing the final by five wickets inside four days. '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 too,' Cummins said. "We've got a good chance to do that straight away. A three-test-match series out there, it means we're into some really important cricket. 'So, in some ways, it's good we get to dust ourselves off and turn around in a couple of weeks and start looking ahead to the next one. That's one of the good things about the World Test Championship, every test series and every test match feels like you're playing for something significant.' Cummins said they naturally want to be in the 2027 final but the makeup of what is an aging team has to be balanced between giving new talent a chance while trying to win matches, with an Ashes home series coming up in November. It wouldn't surprise if there are test retirements after that. 'It does feel like a little bit of a fresh start,' Cummins said. "Fast forward a couple of years, you start thinking about who's going to win. Hopefully if we make the final, who's going to be in that? Do we want to get some games into them? Do we feel like now is the right time to change? Or do you hold with the team that got us to the final? 'A new WTC cycle in some ways does feel like a bit of a reset.' Cummins had a good final, taking seven wickets and reaching 300 for his career, but he believes Australia let slip a second straight WTC title after having the upper hand at times. He felt their 74-run first-innings lead could have been more. 'There's lots of moments where both teams wrestled back control,' he said. "Our first-innings lead was really important. But it was an opportunity where we could have batted the opposition out of the game by putting on well over 300 plus. 'We didn't give ourselves a big enough buffer and we let them back into the game. It's disappointing to miss a huge opportunity like this, and when it happens by a little bit it leaves you feeling a bit empty.' ___ AP cricket:
News18
an hour ago
- News18
'RCB Is Curse...': Memes Surface As South Africa Stun Australia In WTC Final
Last Updated: South Africa win their first World Test Championship title, sparking memes about Australia's failure to defend their title. Even as South Africa won their maiden World Test Championship title and an ICC trophy after 27 long years, the internet was flooded with funny memes over their title win as well as taking subtle digs at Australia's failure to defend their world title, albeit all in a light mood. There was no old heartache at the Lord's, with Aiden Markram making 136 and South Africa skipper Temba Bavuma 66 as they chased down a target of 282 for a five-wicket victory over Australia. Markram, meanwhile, said that he hadn't slept well after finishing Friday's play on 102*. 'I even took a sleeping pill, but it didn't work, he said. Meanwhile, let's take a look at some of the memes that have surfaced online: 'Just 1 wicket from Hazlewood after bowling more than 30 overs across 2 Innings at Lords. This happens when you prioritise IPL over the WTC Final 😅," a user tweeted on Saturday afternoon. 'Josh Hazlewood never lost a final. RCB is a curse," another user tweeted on Saturday evening. ' Ek tha jo stand me khade khade trophy jitwa deta tha," a tweet read. 'Ek tha jo stand me khade khade trophy jitwa deta tha" — TukTuk Academy (@TukTuk_Academy) June 14, 2025 ' Aaram se bhai Brigadier Temba Bavuma ne 27 saal baad ICC trophy 🏆 dilwai hai," a user tweeted. Aaram se bhai Brigadier Temba Bavuma ne 27 saal baad ICC trophy 🏆 dilwai hai #WTCFinal #WtcFinal2025 — Raja Babu (@GaurangBhardwa1) June 14, 2025 Dil Chhota mat kar — Out Of Context Cricket (@GemsOfCricket) June 14, 2025 Temba Bavuma to Pat Cummins. #WtcFinal2025 | #AUSvsSA — Rajabets 🇮🇳👑 (@rajabetsindia) June 14, 2025 Australia suffered a five-wicket loss as South Africa, with opener Aiden Markram making a superb 136 and captain Bavuma 66, chased down a target of 282 before lunch on Day 4. Markram, dismissed for a duck in the first innings, was 102* and Bavuma unbeaten on 65 despite spending most of his innings limping with a hamstring injury after the end of Day 3. First Published: June 14, 2025, 23:18 IST
News18
an hour ago
- News18
Pietersen Hails Markram For WTC Heroics: 'Best Innings Any South African'
Last Updated: Kevin Pietersen praised Aiden Markram's century against Australia in the World Test Championship final as the finest by a South African. Former England captain Kevin Pietersen hailed Proteas opener Aiden Markram's century against Australia in the World Test Championship final as the finest innings ever played by a South African batter in Test cricket. Markram's 136 from 207 balls propelled South Africa to a five-wicket victory, ending a 27-year drought for an ICC trophy. Markram made his test debut at age 22, heartbreakingly run out on 97, and has since scored eight centuries and 13 fifties. But his average of 36.50 has been below expectations. He came into the WTC final without a century in his last 16 test knocks and failed to get on the board in the first innings. Markram's knock at Lord's took the country to their first major cricketing triumph after decades of failure and ensured Markram a place in South African sporting folklore. Pietersen, speaking as a JioStar expert, said, 'Probably the best innings any South African batter has ever played in Test match cricket. It might not be the most attacking or entertaining in South Africa's Test history, but considering the expectation, the stage, and the pressure after failing in the first innings, it was extraordinary. Whether you're a batter or a bowler, the pressure to deliver when your country is counting on you is immense." He highlighted Markram's resilience despite the early loss of Ryan Rickelton. 'He still went on to produce something truly magnificent. It's hard to even describe the kind of pressure he was under," added Pietersen, who has South African roots. South African pacer Kagiso Rabada, whose nine-wicket haul contributed significantly to the win, lauded Markram as a 'big-match player'. He said, 'Aiden is a big-match player. The way he held his ground with such resolve was remarkable. His presence, the way he dominated his space, and stuck to his game plan without wavering was brilliant." Rabada admired Markram's concentration. 'You still had to bat really well on that pitch — it wasn't one where you could afford to be loose. They set off-side and leg-side traps, but he navigated all of it throughout his innings." (With inputs from PTI) First Published: June 14, 2025, 23:17 IST
