The South African team was received at the Johannesburg International Airport like heroes on June 18 after winning the World Test Championship 2023-25 title, defeating the previous champions, Australia, by a margin of 5 wickets. Aiden Markram turned out to be the conductor for the Proteas’ campaign bus in the finals. Markram smashed a stunning century but eventually departed for 136 runs. This was the South Africa team’s victory that ended their 27-year drought of an ICC trophy. Thousands of fans were waiting at the Johannesburg Airport to receive the world champions.
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The team was headed by its captain, Temba Bavuma, and head coach Shukri Conrad, who were victoriously carrying the shiny WTC Mace as they sank in loud cheers at the airport. Proteas lifted the crown by securing a resounding five-wicket triumph over Australia at the Lord’s last Saturday after a gap of 27 years without winning a single major ICC trophy. Bavuma and Conrad came first, smiling proudly, and the rest of the team followed, with each player holding a bunch of flowers, shaking hands and signing autographs, and hugging their followers.
Flags, chants, and emotional rejoicing greeted the arrival hall as young and old fans parted, celebrating not only the morale and the spirit of the night but also honoring a historic moment where South Africa had won their first ICC event since the 1998 Knockout feat tournament against West Indies. The match was won by a brilliant century in the second innings of Aiden Markram, who had been dismissed on a duck earlier, and a nine-wicket haul by Kagiso Rabada to seal the match.
The South African team will return to action on June 28 in a two-match Test series against Zimbabwe
SA squad for Zimbabwe Tests
Temba Bavuma (capt), David Bedingham, Dewald Brevis, Corbin Bosch, Matthew Breetzke, Tony de Zorzi, Zubayr Hamza, Keshav Maharaj, Kwena Maphaka, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Lesego Senokwane, Prenelan Subrayen, Kyle Verreynne, Codi Yusuf
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