Aiden Markram Shines as South Africa Nears ICC World Test Championship Glory
Markram's Stellar Performance
London [UK] June 14: Ashwell Prince, the batting coach for South Africa, praised Aiden Markram as the "man for the big occasion" after the opener played a pivotal role in leading the Proteas towards a remarkable run chase in the ICC World Test Championship Final 2025 against Australia on Friday, as reported by the ICC website.
With a target of 282 runs to secure victory, South Africa ended day three at 213 for two, thanks to Markram's impressive century and a resilient 65 not out from captain Temba Bavuma.
The Proteas now require just 69 more runs to clinch the title, while Australia remains hopeful for a comeback, though South Africa appears to be in a commanding position as they aim for their first ICC trophy in 27 years.
Markram's unbeaten 102 included 11 boundaries, and he celebrated his eighth Test century with a beautiful flick through mid-wicket in the penultimate over of the day.
Overcome with emotion, he wiped away tears, and Prince attributed his success to a minor technical adjustment.
"We certainly know he is someone for the big occasion, of that there is no doubt," said Ashwell Prince.
"He has made some technical improvements, but they were minimal. Recently, he had a tendency to push his hands away from his body and cut across the ball, but it was a simple fix once he reviewed a few videos."
Prince also credited coach Shukri Conrad for maintaining composure, which is one of his strengths.
"As soon as Aiden and Temba came up the stairs, he emphasized the need to stick to our usual routine tonight and continue with the same warm-up tomorrow. It's about maintaining our processes. We recognize the significance of the moment, but we must remain calm," he added.
On Friday morning, the team aimed to secure two quick wickets from Australia to minimize the target, but despite Kagiso Rabada dismissing Nathan Lyon lbw early on, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood held firm.
They formed a 59-run partnership for the 10th wicket, batting through the entire morning session, with Hazlewood finally dismissed on the last ball before lunch, leaving the target at 282.
From that point, South Africa took control. While Australia capitalized on favorable conditions to turn 144 for eight into 207 all out under the morning sun, it was the Proteas' turn to dominate for the remainder of the day.
Starc dismissed Ryan Rickelton for six, but a 63-run partnership between Markram and Wiaan Mulder helped settle the nerves, with runs flowing amidst regular boundaries.
A sharp catch from Marnus Labuschagne sent Mulder back for 27, while Steve Smith dropped Bavuma on two, injuring his finger in the process and requiring a trip to the hospital.
Despite this setback, Bavuma displayed class, even after injuring his hamstring during the afternoon session.
Prince revealed they contemplated retiring him during the tea break, but Bavuma insisted he could continue, hitting five boundaries in his 121-ball innings.
"It's not over yet, but he has had to fight throughout his career, and this could be a defining moment for him," Prince remarked.
"This is the biggest stage in Test cricket. He is resilient, and Aiden has immense respect for Temba. The unity within this team is their greatest asset."
"Just look at how they celebrate a wicket to understand that. They know South Africa has had greater individual talents, but they possess something special in the dressing room that helps them uplift each other."
While 69 runs is not an overwhelming target, keeping South Africa's batters composed is now the challenge.
Much has been said about their history in ICC tournaments—they have come close to adding to their ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 1998 success multiple times but have always fallen short. However, this represents their best chance to break that streak.
Brief Scores: Australia: 212 and 207 (Mitchell Starc 58*, Alex Carey 43, Kagiso Rabada 4/59) against SA: 138 and 213/2 (Aiden Markram 102*, Temba Bavuma 65*, Mitchell Starc 2/37).