Grand Welcome for South Africa’s Test Champions in Johannesburg
Received ₹31 Crore as Prize Along with the Trophy Mace; Players Greeted Fans and Gave Autographs
Johannesburg: South Africa’s World Test champions, who defeated defending champions Australia in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final, received a grand welcome upon their arrival in Johannesburg after almost 96 hours the final they played in Lord’s.
The team was awarded the championship mace from the ICC and a prize of $3.6 million (approximately ₹31 crore). The runners-up, Australia, received $2.1 million (around ₹18.63 crore).
The squad were received by country’s sports minister Gayton McKenzie, many other dignitaries and fans across the country. Students from some of the player’s former schools, such as Aiden Markram’s Pretoria Boys High School and player’s family members also were present on the historical occasion.
While millions of cricket fans in India are still recovering from the stampede-like chaos in Bengaluru following RCB’s maiden IPL title win on June 4, South Africa is celebrating its historic ICC trophy win.
Captain Temba Bavuma and head coach Shukri Conrad were the first to appear before fans at the airport, followed by the rest of the team arriving in full celebratory spirit. Tristan Stubbs and Lungi Ngidi proudly carried the national flag.
The South African players danced joyfully in front of fans, shook hands, hugged them and signed autographs.
This was the World Cup of Test cricket, and South Africa has won a big ICC trophy for the first time in cricket history. It is also South Africa’s first ICC trophy win in 27 years—the last being the 1998 Champions Trophy.
The low-scoring WTC final at Lord’s concluded on the fourth day. Australia scored 212 runs in the first innings, followed by South Africa’s 138, giving Australia a 74-run lead. Australia then posted 207 runs in the second innings, setting South Africa a target of 282 runs, which they chased down in 83.4 overs with five wickets in hand.
Opener Aiden Markram, who was dismissed for a duck in the first innings, turned hero in the second innings. He spent 383 minutes at the crease and scored a trophy-winning 136 runs off 207 balls, including 14 fours. Captain Bavuma scored 66 runs, and David Bedingham contributed an unbeaten 21.