Going over IMHO
I seem to remember looking up who each team played in this WTC cycle.
Proteas didn't have more than 1 test series that was 3 matches and maybe only played India during that time of the big 3?
I could be misremembering but it says a lot about what they've been able to do here.
136 in the circumstances was one hell of a knock by Markram. He should be Man of the Match.
Rabada with nine wickets in the match. He made sure that none of the Australian batsmen could get away.
@NTA said in Cricket: WTC Final Oz vs SA:
That's that. Well done them.
Hopefully a few lessons for us
Time to usher in some fresh blood
Have the Aussie team left the field?
Edit: there they are. Nothing worse than the second place medal
Australia lost this game by not scoring enough runs with the bat.
According to Chat GTP:
"Since 1989, there have been no Test matches in England where a team has won after scoring 429 runs or fewer across both innings combined. This threshold is notably below the typical winning scores in Test cricket, especially in the modern era.
For context, the lowest total to win a Test match in England is 252 runs, achieved by England against Australia at Edgbaston, Birmingham in 2005. In that match, England scored 407 runs in their first innings and 252 in their second innings, totaling 659 runs. Australia, in their second innings, managed 435 runs, resulting in a narrow victory for England by 2 runs.
Therefore, a combined total of 429 runs or fewer across both innings is insufficient for a team to win a Test match in England."
Time for them in inject some new batting talent (if they have any).
Great win by the Proteas. Always good to get one over Australia. This will put the Proteas next to Springbok rugby in South Africa. Our cricket has suffer long enough.
@OomPB I thought the South Africans bowled and fielded beautifully in this match and played the situation and the occasion wonderfully in their second innings. Rabada got the ball in all the right spots on the Lord's pitch and Markram was imperious with the bat in the final innings.
They deserve a heroes' welcome when they get back to RSA. Hopefully, it will lead to South Africa being involved in and hosting some longer Test Series again. You guys are an integral part of world Cricket.
Great effort SA.
Long live test cricket.
Genuinely pleased for this team of battlers. Australia will of course be back though !
@MN5 said in Cricket: WTC Final Oz vs SA:
Australia will of course be back though !
Eventually. I think we're about to enter an era much like post-McGrath and -Warne.
It's clear we've got some batters past their due date and stinking up the joint. In the old days they'd go play Shield to find form, but now they'll just go chasing cash.
Khawaja must surely be on the chopping block at 38? The last 2 years has seen his average slide, with only 2 tons (Birmingham June 2023 and Gaulle Jan 2025) for 2 years. Trend line in red.
Marnus not far behind IMHO tho at 30 maybe he's got time to course-correct. One ton in two years. Not good.
While being aware that they've come undone in some tough conditions, there have also been some very questionable shot selections in there.
Nathan Lyon - 37
Mitch Starc - 35
Josh Hazlewood - 34
Pat Cummins - 32
Hopefully we can squeeze a couple more years out of these guys while new bats come through
A little bit of trivia that South Africa were allocated as the Home Team so Markram and Rabada's achievements at Lord's will go the Home Honours Boards normally reserved for England players.
@NTA said in Cricket: WTC Final Oz vs SA:
Nathan Lyon - 37
Mitch Starc - 35
Josh Hazlewood - 34
Pat Cummins - 32Hopefully we can squeeze a couple more years out of these guys while new bats come through
Get them in touch with Paddles ( you might have heard of him, a real piston wristed gibbon according to Australians on the banks in the 80s ) but by crikey he could bowl.
Played his last test match at 39 after being knighted. Took a wicket with his last ball in test cricket to complete five for the innings a then record 36th time.
THAT is how you bow out.
But seriously, quite surprised at how old they all are. In my mind they're still in their 20s.
Then again in my mind I'm only pushing 40, not 48.
South Africa have some excellent young talent on the block. Sadly we lost our best batter Heinrich Klaassen. India played a big role in our cricket development. Marko Jansen was used by the touring Indians as a net bowler and got him into IPL. Luandrhe Pretorius is 19 years old and already in the IPL.
sadly not much test cricket around these days.
