World Test Champions.
There is so much to be said and written about what SA’s magnificent five-wicket win against Australia at Lord’s last week might mean for the game, the format and the future, but this week those words can wait.
The champagne glasses can stay on the table for a little while longer. The clear-up can come later. Anyway, some of the glasses are still half full.
“It’s hard to sum up, it’ll take a while to sink in. It was so lovely to have our families here, and just walking around and seeing all the supporters. I’m not going to call them fans. They were really behind us and we felt all of their energy, they were just fantastic. This was truly special,” said Kagiso Rabada, shortly after completing his match haul of 9/110.
Aiden Markram’s 136 in the fourth innings run-chase was one of the great innings in SA Test history. He was a worthy recipient of the man of the match award but Rabada’s contribution made it possible.
Did Rabadareally believe victory was likely after being bowled out for just 138 to concede a first innings deficit of 74 runs in a low-scoring game?
“When you’re in the final, you have to think that way. There are normally two voices in your head, the one that doubts and the one that believes. That’s the one that we keep feeding, especially in big moments like this, the World Test Championship final. And that’s why you saw the performances you saw, it’s a testament to our team this season,” said Rabada.
Added ebullient coach Shukri Conrad: “I’m so thrilled for these guys, so happy for them. Something we never talk about is what it means to the country, but today we can talk about that. This means a helluva lot for the country,”
Injured captain Temba Bavuma’s courageous 66 in a third-wicket partnership of 147 with Markram will also never be forgotten by those who watched it, and neither will Lungi Ngidi’s three-wicket burst in the second innings, starting with Steve Smith, which reduced Australia to 73/7 and a lead of just 147 at that stage.
Australia’s tenacity in pushing that lead up to 281 should also not be forgotten, but for the majority of the audience it will be — such is the unforgiving nature of sport.
Conrad bristled with delightful indignation, as always, when he was asked about the “Big Three” Test nations — India, England and Australia — and how they dominate the global game.
“We’re the world champions. We create our own reality. We haven’t played any of the big three? We just played one of them, and beat them. This is not me being arrogant, this is me saying, ‘When we play against supposedly the top three, we will perform’. We’re the world champions.
Without exception, prematch pundits rated SA’s chances of victory as close to zero without a bagful of wickets from Rabada, the one and only superstar in the team.
“I don’t see myself as a star. I see myself as someone who’s willing to give my blood for this team and play for the badge with a lot of pride. That’s the way I see myself and that’s the way that I’d like to see everyone play.
“I’m not going into the game thinking, man, I need to get seven wickets for us to win. Just as an opportunity for me to get as many wickets as I can and make an impact for the team. But I know that I’m not going to do it alone. And I back all the players that are in the team. They’re playing for SA for a reason, it’s not by chance.
“I’ll never forget this in my life. None of the boys will forget this in their lives,” Rabada said.
There was no dissent among his teammates or, presumably, among the majority of a packed crowd who were, visibly and vocally, very much behind the Proteas.
“It’s easy to say because we’ve just won, but if the result had been different, I would still have said it was the best cricketing experience we’ve ever been a part of,” said Conrad.
“It’s an absolute spectacle. Everything about this place is spot on. But the vibe, the crowd support, it was just wonderful.”
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