Keshav Maharaj sobs uncontrollably; Temba Bavuma covers his face to hide tears after South Africa win WTC, make history
Keshav Maharaj and Temba Bavuma were visibly emotional after South Africa beat Australia to win the third edition of the World Test Chamionship.
It had to be this moment. Shaun Pollock was in the commentary box, Graeme Smith waited near the boundary, and AB de Villiers sat in the stands with his son. Three names that have defined South African cricket for years, for decades, were present at the iconic Lord's Cricket Ground. The three of them, together and individually, had suffered a plethora of heartbreaks; defeats that have been etched in the annals of South African cricket. But today, on this day, none of that mattered. What mattered was watching their beloved South African team script history, when they defeated Australia by five wickets to win their maiden ICC World Test Championship – the first ICC title in 27 years.
However, perhaps the most emotional individual was Keshav Maharaj. The spinner, who, during the 2022 T20 World Cup, tried to avoid a defeat to the Netherlands but was unable to do so, stood on the Lord's balcony to see South African cricket achieve its greatest moment of all time. Maharaj picked himself up to have a word with Smith. Overcome with emotions, Maharaj sobbed uncontrollably, aptly summing up the magnitude of this victory.
"It's special, it's an honour to lift the cup for everyone out here and back home. It's what the country's about, the unity among everyone in the last five days. We're very grateful, as a team as a nation, as a proud country. I think the emotions would've spurred me into the right direction had I got into bat. (Message to fans back home) Thanks to everyone who's been supporting us, through adversity we've stood strong. We honour those who've come before us, may this be a stepping stone for greater things to come," he said.
Temba Bavuma emotional
Another sight that captivated the audience was that of South Africa captain Temba Bavuma. The warrior, who batted with an injured hamstring to score arguably the greatest and most important 66 runs of his life and added 147 runs with centurion Aiden Makram – the one that turned the match on its head, covered his face. As the rest of his team and teammates erupted in celebration, Bavuma sat there, burying his tear-laden face. He did eventually get up and joined his teammates, but that frame of Bavuma covering his face spoke at least 1000 stories if not more.
Dale Steyn struggles to find the right words
Dale Steyn, one of South Africa's greatest pacers, was at a loss for words watching the Protea fire in its full spirit. Steyn was there, 10 years ago in Auckland, when Grant Elliott for a six to send South Africa packing in the semi-final. He sank to his knees and lay motionless on the ground before being offered a hand and lifted up by Elliott himself. That was his second successive heartbreak, having fallen to India in the semi-final of the preceding year's World T20 in Bangladesh.
Steyn, while speaking to broadcasters Star Sports, seemed visibly emotional and stuttered at first, struggling to get his words right. And who could blame him? This was a team, his former team, that had fought tooth and nail, only to endure one heartache after another. And today, on this day, when it's all come to fruition, it's only fitting that some of South African cricket's behemoths were present to witness the day they and their country had long waited for.
