INNOVATION FOR TEST CRICKET

After two years of bilateral test series around the world the winner of the World Test Championship (WTC) 2025 is decided. The test match is played between Australia and South Africa. Lord’s is the best place to play the final of the WTC at this time of the year as it is known as the home of cricket.

The WTC is being introduced by ICC to bring more context to bilateral test series and an official champion of the longest format of cricket. This WTC is about a spans of two years of test cricket between all the nations to find one ultimate champion. The inaugural edition of the WTC tournament was played between India and New Zealand on 2019 and the kiwis defeated India by 8 wickets.

THE STAGE IS ALL SET

In this edition of the WTC while the Aussies has mostly an experienced line up on the other side proteas has comparatively a much younger side with the blend of match winners in the context of test cricket. The stage was all set to host the rivelry of two cricketing powerhouse.Both side having their best bowlers though but the proteas batting looked a bit weaker than the Cummin’s team. The crickleting world was expecting some good cricket from both side and they are not at all disappointed. It was a exciting test match and a successful edition of WTC.Toss was won by Temba Bavuma and he made the choice in favor of bowling.

PROTEAS STALWART

When the Aussies went to bat it appears to be a decent toss to win when it comes to Bavuma, since the ball was literally doing what the bowlers were advising it to do. The Proteas stalwart Kagiso Rabada started with unplayable deliveries and took 5 wickets in the first innings of this massiv WTC, Because of him the Australian Batsmen faced hard time to bat on. The Australians were 4 down for only 67 runs, the opener Usman Khawaja was gone for 0 but the experienced Steven smith stood the ground and tried to fight hard. Smith with Beau Webster build a 79 runs partnership and then smith got out for 66 important runs.

Later Webster had a partnership of 46 runs with Alex Carey. So apart from smith only Webster was able to get 72 runs and carey made 23. On the first innings Australia end up making 212 runs. Proteas bowlers did well as Rabada took 5 wickets, Jensen contributed with 3 and Maharaj and Markram with 1 wicket each.

THE COLLAPSE

In response the South Africans also collapsed in their batting. They looked clueless in front of the swing of Mitch Stark who sent Markram to the dog out on 0 in his first over. So openers from both the sides was unable to get off the mark in the WTC 2025. SA innings was more helpless and only end up making 138. The best score individual was the captain Bavuma 36 and Bedingham produced well to score 45.

Instead of a good start given by stark with his 2 wickets , the Aussie captain pat cummins was unplayable and he got 6 wickets in his name. 1 wicket was for Josh Hazlewood as well. Partnrship between Bavuma and Bedingham on the South African Innings of 64 runs has given some hope to fight for the Proteas. It was all cleared that both team would have to face the struggle during the batting. The pitch and the whether was all favouring the bowlers till then.

AUSSIE COMEBACK

Now it’s time for Aussie to bat on their 2nd innings but the collapse continued and Australia lost his first 4 wickets for 48 runs and lost 3 more wickets without going past 100. It was 73 for 7 and then Carey and stark fought back and made 61 runs before Carey got LBW and out on 43 important runs. But it was Mitch stark who kept going. These all happened in the first two days. On the 3rd day the pitch seems a bit favourable for batting and stark with Hazlewood made 59 runs for their team and Australia end up making 207 runs.

Stark played really well for his individual 58 runs well supported by Hazlewood who made 17 runs. For SA once again Rabada took 4 wickets and Ngidi bowled well and picked up 3 wicktets.Mulder, Jensn and Markram also got 1 wicket  each. But proteas will be disappointed as they should’ve got Aussies within 150-160 after that magnificent start with the ball in the 2nd innings of the WTC final. The target was set for the Proteas. 282 was needed for win this final and get the test championship Mace.

THE RESISTANCE

Now as the pitch was improved for batting the South Africans started their 2nd innings with a different approach, aggressive to be precise but once again lost their first wicket Ryan Rickelton for just 6 runs of his own. But it was visible that the bowlers are not getting much movement like the previous two days. Mulder came to the pitch and played his part under pressure, his 27 runs were crusial at that time. On the other side Markram was looking good and patience. He was solid in defence and knocking around for runs which was clearly showing the intent.

After mulder got back to pavillion the skipper Temba Bavuma came to the middle and started the partnership which has made the place in the history of the game. Both of them were playing their shorts getting singles and boundaris on the loose balls, this was frustrating for the australians. Though Temba was dropped once by steve smith on slip but after that no chance was created by anyone. Also one thing should be mentioned here that Bavuma carried on despite hamstring injury in the middle of the innings.

MAN OF THE MATCH (WTC)

By the end of day 3 south africa was 213/2 only 69 runs behind with the help of magnificent century by Markram and Bavuma also contributed with his half century. On the day 4 the skipper got out to his counterpart Pat Cummins, he played a captain’s knock in the WTC and made 66 runs. As Proteas getting closer to the target they lost Stubbs who made 8 runs and Markram got out when only 6 runs were needed  making 136 runs which will be remembered for a long time.

Its look like Australians jsut could not trouble Markram,he was fearless and outstanding. In the end it was Bedingham(21) and Verreynne(4) who finished the game with 5 wickets in hand.Australians tried everything but nothing could damage much.Starc got 3 wickets,Cummins and Hazlewood both had 1 wicket each.So the new WTC champions has emerged and its South Africa.Aiden Markram has been crowned as the Man Of The Match.

THE HOPE

In the past SA faced to much failure as they could not able to win a trophy for a long time. This historic WTC has ended a 27 year of ICC trophy draught for them. Captain Bavuma leading from the front and Rabada took 9 wickets, but its all Aiden Markram who was unstoppable and will be mentioned as a man for the big moments. It is reported that the name TEMBA means HOPE(in native language) given by his grandmother and he proved it for the South Africans. Also his record of being unbeaten in test as a captain stays unchanged.

Players from all over the world has witnessed this historic WTC final and enjoyed the game. SA legend AB De Villiars was also seen with his kids. It seems that the cricketing world is happy to see that Mace in the hands of the proteas because after being a deserving winning team for a long time the South Africans always met a heart broken end. But this time its a different story,the hope was there and in the end they finally has achived it. This is a happy ending.