World champ Proteas return to heroes' welcome
The focus shifts to the Proteas, who became world champions with a five-wicket win over Australia in the ICC World Test Championship final at Lord's at the weekend and returned to a heroes' welcome at OR Tambo International Airport on Wednesday.
The panel ended their discussion by talking about the Springboks, who are in camp in Johannesburg where coach Rassie Erasmus is preparing for the international season.
The campaign starts with a clash against the Barbarians in Cape Town on June 28, followed by back-to-back matches against Italy at Loftus (July 5) and Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium (July 12), then a Test against Georgia in Mbombela on July 19.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
TimesLIVE
2 hours ago
- TimesLIVE
Miss Teen International celebrated by fans at OR Tambo
Newly crowned Miss Teen Model International, Pearl Mathebula, was celebrated upon her arrival at OR Tambo International Airport on Wednesday, just before the Proteas arrived. Arriving at the airport, the 17-year-old said her win was an overwhelming moment because she was the only black person in the competition. 'I was doubting myself, thinking they wouldn't pick me because I'm black and I don't speak Spanish but the fact that I made my country proud was a special moment,' she said The airport was quiet for most of the day but was soon transformed into a hive of activity when Mathebula arrived just before the world Test cricket champions. . Polokwane mayor John Mpe and Pearl's mother, known as Tholapi, celebrated along with the Proteas and the young beauty queen. The Miss Teen Model International winner was presented with a bouquet of flowers as she was escorted into the crowd. 'We want to thank the organisers, Miss Teen South Africa, for giving her the opportunity because it's only through you that we were able to see Pearl's talent,' said Mpe.
TimesLIVE
2 hours ago
- TimesLIVE
World champ Proteas meet, greet and sign at Mandela Square
The world Test champion Proteas greeted crowds of fans, did Q and As, showed off of the Test Mace and signed autographs for thrilled supporters at Nelson Mandela Square at Sandton City on Thursday. The Proteas returned from winning the World Test Championship final at Lord's in London on Wednesday. They won their first major international trophy. Their dramatic, thrilling five-wicket win against Australia in a Test for the ages that concluded on Saturday brought to an end a 27-year period of pain and devastating near-misses for the national cricket team since readmission to international sport in 1991. Autograph Proteas The Proteas players signing autographs at Nelson Mndela Square. Image: Kabelo Mokoena The World Test Champions @ProteasMenCSA get some exercise to their wrists signing thousands of autographs and meeting and greeting fans at Nelson Mandela Square in Sandton on Thursday — Marc Strydom (@marc_strydom) June 19, 2025 The World Test Champions @ProteasMenCSA get some exercise to their wrists signing thousands of autographs and meeting and greeting fans at Nelson Mandela Square in Sandton on Thursday — Marc Strydom (@marc_strydom) June 19, 2025
IOL News
3 hours ago
- IOL News
Proteas hero Aiden Markram felt ‘all of the emotions at once' in career-defining Lord's final century
Aiden Markram takes a photo with Proteas fans at the OR Tambo International Airport this week. Photo: ITUMELENG ENGLISH Independent Media Image: ITUMELENG ENGLISH Independent Media WHEN Aiden Markram walked in to open the batting alongside Dean Elgar in Potchefstroom almost a decade ago, there had been a lot said about his potential, with many dubbing him the next Graeme Smith. After all, Markram had led the South African Under-19s to World Cup glory a few years prior, and sent the country into a state of happiness. On that day in Potchefstroom, Markram's 97 on debut further gave the country hope that it had found its next run machine, one that could potentially reach the heights that Smith achieved in his career. For the next couple of years, he would prove himself against India and Australia at home, bringing up big centuries as he solidified his place as a Test-match opener. However, a couple of years later, international bowlers finally cracked his code and learned his weakness, and the right-hander struggled. Eventually, in an attempt to try and keep such a talented player in the team, he was moved down the order, an experiment that also failed in New Zealand and England as the batter battled to make runs. Now, Markram sits with almost 3,000 Test runs at an average of 36, with eight hundreds, a set of numbers many would have never associated with him, given the hype and expectations that were placed on him. However, in the last two seasons, after being dropped a little over two years ago, he has blasted two centuries, including one in the recently concluded World Test Championship final at Lord's against a high-octane Australian pace attack. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ That knock is dubbed as one of the best innings in history because of the nature of the Test match, in that it was dominated by the bowlers who took 28 wickets in the opening two days in London. Markram scored that 136 (off 207 balls, 14x4) in the second innings following a duck in the first. 'A pair in the final... I don't think I would have slept very well,' he told the media, reflecting on the Test at Lord's. 'The ultimate goal in the second innings was just to get the first run, and then I said from there, I'll sort of tackle the rest and take the rest on. 'So, it was obviously a thought in my mind. Aiden Markram salutes the Lord's crowd after his match-winning 136 for the Proteas against Australia. Photo: AFP Image: AFP 'I think it's a thought in most batter's minds. But that was the initial thing, and then from there, it's just about staying in the game. 'I've said it, that conditions did get better for batting. The sun was out, which makes a big difference in the UK. 'Once we got through that initial sting of the new ball, it felt like we could actually occupy the crease, and we could transfer some pressure back onto them.' By the end of the third day, Markram had reached his century and barely celebrated as South Africa had 69 runs to get to win the match on day four. However, the 30-year-old said that he was emotional after stumps on day three as it had sunk in that he had scored a massive century, and was on the brink of helping the Proteas to the world title. Moreover, the opening batter highlighted his disappointment in not finishing unbeaten, as he was dismissed on a 207-ball 136. 'I think on day three, I was emotional about how things had worked out once I got back into the changing-room at stumps,' said Markram. 'But, I'm trying to get into it where you actually end up not out. I keep getting close and then giving it away. 'Even if the game is done or not, that's what the best players do, so that's sort of what you strive to try to do. Our ICC World Test Champions, the Proteas men, were welcomed in an exclusive fashion at the @SuperSportTV offices at the World of Champions. 🔥🏆#WTCFinal #WozaNawe #ProteasWTCFinal — Proteas Men (@ProteasMenCSA) June 19, 2025
