It’s been 33 years of World Cup heartache. 33 – over 3 decades.
Like many South Africans of my age and older, I can remember them all:
– The rain in 1992 when Dave Richardson (Swinger) and Brian McMillan were on the cusp of steering us into our maiden World Cup final;
– The decision not to play Allan Donald in the 1996 quarter-final vs. the West Indies with Steve Palframan, who was in for the injured Swinger, dropping Lara early (he went on to make a match winning 100);
– The run out in 1999 (enough said);
– The Duckworth-Lewis debacle on home soil in 2003;
– Charging down the wicket recklessly against the Aussies in the 2007 semi-final – we were 20 odd for five and never recovered;
– Failing to chase a very gettable 220 odd vs. New Zealand in Dhaka in the 2011 quarter-final;
– Grant Elliot hitting the match-winning six off Dale Steyn in the final over of the 2015 semi-final (after rain had earlier massively slowed our momentum with AB in full swing);
– A disastrous all-round performance on (now) home soil in 2019; and
– Needing 30 off 30 to win at the recent the 2024 T20 World Cup.
33 years of heartache but no more following the most glorious of Test matches in the sunshine at the Home of Cricket – the Proteas are World Test Champions!!
Many didn’t feel we deserved to even be in the World Test Championship (WTC) final, but you can only play what’s in front of you and we had earned the right after winning our final 7 Tests. Australia, defending World Test Champions, were heavy favourites coming to London, but our boys had the belief and the heart, and you knew we had it in us to cause an upset.
It was very overcast in NW 8 come the first morning and winning the toss gave us best use of Day 1 conditions. We bowled, and caught, beautifully and with Kagiso Rabada (KG) leading the attack, the Aussies were all out for 212 early into the final session. Having been allocated the home dressing room, KG is only the 2nd player, after the great West Indian Gordon Greenidge, to appear on both the away and home Honours Board.
Sadly, we showed no intent when we came out to bat and handed back all the momentum, eventually ending the day on 43/4 after 22 overs. It felt like Australia had wrestled away the day and would be the happier dressing room.
I was beyond excited as I headed into London for day 2, made my way through the North gate and settled into my seat in the Upper Compton stand. What a fantastic first session it was with Temba Bavuma and David Bedingham showing real intent – taking quick singles, putting away the bad ball and not letting Australia get on top. We added 81 for the loss of just 1 wicket and at lunch on day 1, were 91 behind with 5 wickets left. The beers were tasting delicious in the sunshine!
The afternoon session, however, was a complete disaster. We lost our last 5 wickets for 17, yes 17, runs to hand the Aussies a 74-run lead. At the time, it felt like it could well be decisive. We managed to take two wickets but at tea, the lead had swelled to just over a 100 with Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith at the wicket.
Enter Lungi Ngidi who bowled the spell of his life to dismiss Smith, the dangerous Travis Head and captain Pat Cummins and help reduce the Aussies to 74-7 at drinks, a lead of now 91. Once more, however, momentum changed hands with Alex Carey and Mitchell Starc putting on 61 for the 9th wicket before KG dismissed Carey late in the day. At stumps, the Aussies were 144/8, a lead of 218. You felt that they would again be the happier dressing room.
We headed back to Lords the following morning knowing we were already chasing, at best, the tied fourth-highest 4th innings total to win a Test at Lords. The Aussies weren’t done yet, though, and despite losing Nathan Lyon early, the final pair of Starc and Josh Hazelwood added over 50. Hazelwood was eventually dismissed on the stroke of lunch with the target a huge 282. We looked listless and flat in the field and whilst 282 seemed a stretch too far, the sun was out, and the pitch was definitely far easier to bat on.
The 4.5 hours that followed are right up there with the best sessions of Test cricket I’ve had the privilege of watching live. The occasion, the company, the atmosphere, the sunshine, the cold beers, the venue, the many renditions of Shosholoza and of course that partnership – it was a privilege to be at Lords that glorious Friday. Raines and I were counting down the chase – 10% there, 20% there… and we enjoyed many beers and many renditions of Shosholoza as Aiden Makram scored the finest 100 of his career and Bavuma, on one hamstring, brilliantly supported him with a gutsy 65 *. By close of play, the partnership was a sublime 143 and we needed 69 on the fourth morning to win.
Like all South Africans I was unbelievably nervous as I headed back to Lords on the fourth morning. We only needed 69 to win but we’d been here before and you knew the Aussies believed they could still win it. Those nerve shot up when Bavuma nicked a Cummins beauty early with Tristan Stubbs following not long after and with 4 down, we needed 41 to win.
By now we were counting every run and with 28 needed, my phone vibrated in my pocket. It was Raines – ‘we’re 90% there, Jazza :)’
It almost felt surreal watching us knock off the final runs having experienced decades of heartache. I think I finally (just about) relaxed when Makram took 7 off Hazelwood’s first 2 deliveries with the new ball to reduce the runs required to under 10.
Makram deserved to be there at the end but it wasn’t to be with the honour falling to keeper Kyle Verreyne who smoked a wide one from Starc through the covers to send a partisan Lord’s into raptures.
33 years and no more – the Proteas are World Test Champions.
