ICC drops a ‘banger' as ‘Lord Bavuma' steals the show in ‘lit' WTC clip; Dale Steyn's reaction says it all
The International Cricket Council (ICC) turned up the style on Monday by dropping a slick social media clip of South Africa's celebratory visit to Lord's, where they lifted their maiden World Test Championship (WTC) mace after defeating Australia last week. The video set the internet ablaze, leaving fans stunned by the post's flair and creativity.
The WTC final concluded on June 14 in London, with South Africa sealing a dominant five-wicket win. Aiden Markram struck a scintillating century in the final innings to finish the match inside four days.
A day after the historic victory, the South African team returned to Lord's — this time for a post-match media shoot. Suited up and in high spirits, the players were seen singing the catchy 'Temba Bavuma' chant on their way to the ground. Spinner Keshav Maharaj admitted the win still hadn't sunk in.
At the iconic venue, the team posed for a photoshoot. That's when ICC spiced things up on their social media — posting a cinematic video from the shoot unlike anything seen before. Titled simply 'Attitude,' the video showed the players in sunglasses, exuding swagger as the camera zoomed out dramatically.
Fans were mesmerised, and the best reaction came from none other than Dale Steyn, who commented 'GOLD' on the post.
WTC-winning captain Bavuma doesn't want South Africa's celebration to end in London as he aims to carry this momentum to T20 World Cup next year and eventually the 50-over World Cup at home a year after.
"I think it will be massive. I mean, that tournament, we are definitely setting our sights on doing special things in that tournament," Bavuma said as quoted by ICC after the Proteas ended 27-year-wait for their second ICC trophy after the Knockout title in 1998.
"There is still a way to go until then. Shukri (Conrad) obviously comes in now as the white-ball coach, so we will see what plans that he has, who his personnel will be. But yeah, hopefully this is the start of those trophies for the team," he added.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The Hindu
27 minutes ago
- The Hindu
SL vs BAN, 1st Test: Record stand puts Bangladesh in command vs Sri Lanka
A record-breaking fourth-wicket partnership between captain Najmul Hossain Shanto and Mushfiqur Rahim put Bangladesh in control at 292-3 on day one of the first Test against Sri Lanka on Tuesday. After a wobbly start at Galle, the pair stitched together 247 runs -- the highest fourth-wicket stand for Bangladesh in Tests against Sri Lanka -- steering the tourists to a commanding position at stumps. Having elected to bat first, Bangladesh was reeling at 45 for three when the duo came together. What followed was a gritty rescue act -- a partnership built on sound temperament, clever shot selection and an unflinching resolve as they dug their team out of early trouble. Mushfiqur, the most capped Test player in Bangladesh history with 97 appearances, silenced his critics with a timely ton. The veteran, under the pump after a lean patch spanning 13 innings without a half-century, rolled back the years with a knock of poise and purpose. The 38-year-old has fond memories of Galle, having struck a monumental double hundred there in 2013, and once again turned tormentor-in-chief for the Sri Lankan bowlers. He did enjoy a slice of luck -- a tough chance spilled by debutant Tharindu Rathnayake on 25 -- but made it count, navigating a nervy passage in the 90s, before scampering a quick single to notch up his 12th Test hundred. Shanto, positive from the outset, kept the scoreboard ticking with deft footwork and a keen eye for the loose ball. He brought up his sixth Test century -- and second against Sri Lanka -- with a cheeky paddle sweep off Prabath Jayasuriya, marking his first ton since November 2023. Sri Lanka made early inroads with right-arm quick Asitha Fernando drawing first blood, removing opener Anamul Haque for a duck. Off-spinner Rathnayake, handed his Test cap on the back of a prolific domestic season, struck twice in quick succession. But once the Shanto-Mushfiqur duo got their eye in, it was one-way traffic. ALSO READ | SL vs BAN, 1st Test Day 1 Highlights Sri Lanka also handed a debut to opening batter Lahiru Udara, another domestic heavyweight, while the hosts paused before the start of play to congratulate retiring stalwart Angelo Mathews. The 38-year-old Mathews, playing his 119th and final Test, will hang up his boots with over 8,000 runs, behind only Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene in Sri Lanka's all-time charts. Mathews speaking before the start, said he was 'extremely proud to have a wonderful journey, thankful for whoever was part of it'. 'Feeling quite special. Realising that I have played over 100 Tests', he added. 'Playing for the country was my dream, it has come true.' The match is the first in the new two-year World Test Championship cycle. The second Test begins in Colombo on June 25. Brief scores: Bangladesh: 292-3 (Najmul Hossain Shanto 136 not out, Mushfiqur Rahim 105 not out) Toss: Bangladesh


Indian Express
32 minutes ago
- Indian Express
‘I'm willing to give my blood to this South African team,' Kagiso Rabada insists he doesn't see himself as a ‘star'
A key characteristic of South Africa's World Test Championship final triumph was two players who are considered their best delivering when it mattered. Aiden Makram scored a colossal century in the second innings that all but saw South Africa home before which Kagiso Rabada took nine wickets – five in Australia's first innings and four in the second. Rabada is considered one of the best bowlers in the world and arguably the biggest name among the current lot of South African cricketers but the pacer doesn't see himself that way. 'I don't see myself as a star,' he told reporters at Lord's. 'I see myself as someone who's willing to give my blood for this team and continue working hard and improving. That's me as a cricketer, always wanting to improve and playing for the badge with a lot of pride. I've been working extremely hard, and those second-innings spells, those are the ones that count more, when you're a bit tired. You could be behind the game, or you could be ahead of the game. This time, we're behind the game. But I think it was just about staying calm and looking at what's in front of us. That's the way I see myself.' Rabada said that the South Africans ignored the part of their minds that were doubting their chances. The victory marked an end to a nearly three-decade long title drought in which generations upon generations of Proteas players had suffered heartbreak in the big tournament. 'There are normally two voices in your head, the one that doubts and the one that believes. The second is the one that we keep feeding, especially in big moments like this, the World Test Championship final. That's why you saw the performances you saw. It's a testament to our team this season,' said Rabada.


Hindustan Times
34 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Shastri backs his 2021 'KL Rahul' decision to lock-in India's top-4 vs England, hands debut cap for Leeds Test
Team India will return to Test action on June 20 when it kicks off its World Test Championship cycle against England. The match in Leeds precedes a generational transition, with batting stalwarts Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli leaving the format last month. A new-look Indian team, led by young captain Shubman Gill, will look to make a mark from the outset in the opening Test at Headingley, and ahead of the match, former India head coach Ravi Shastri has named his XI. India's new leadership duo of Gill and coach Gautam Gambhir will have some defining calls to make ahead of the first Test, none bigger than naming the next No.4. It's not just a position; it's a legacy. For decades, India's no.4 in Tests has been the epicentre of greatness. From Sachin Tendulkar, who held it through the 2000s, to Virat Kohli, who inherited it seamlessly after Tendulkar's retirement in 2013, the slot has been reserved for generational giants. With Kohli stepping away from Test cricket earlier this year, that storied position now lies vacant. In terms of experience, KL Rahul remains India's most experienced batter in the current lineup, but Shastri believes the new captain, Gill, should be occupying the role. Rahul, he believes, is suited best at the top. 'It would be (Yashasvi) Jaiswal, and with him will be KL. Rahul, because I think this is a big tour for him. He's the most experienced of the batsmen,' Shastri told The ICC Review as he listed his side. 'He opened last time when India toured England, got a hundred, (and) had a good tour. So I would hope for him to open the innings. 'Three, I'll go with the youngster, Sai Sudarshan. 'Whatever I've seen of him, he's very impressive. This will be good exposure for him, this tour.' While Shastri named Gill as his no.4, he sees a comeback for Karun Nair in the Test XI after 8 years. 'In all probability, depending on what current form is, it'll be Karun Nair. He bats at five, it's a long time since he played for India. Six will be (Rishabh) Pant.' 'I think he (Nair) has worked really hard. He's just worked his way back into the side. The number of runs he's got in first-last cricket is incredible. 'And I met him during an IPL game. I said, 'don't just bang the door. Just kick it down and make your way in and walk into that side'. And I think he's done just that. Just the number of runs that he's got has made the selectors look in that direction and give him a place.'