Temba Bavuma calls out Australia’s distasteful sledging after WTC win: ‘When we were batting, we could hear…’

By Admin

16 Jun, 2025

For years, South African cricket has carried a weighty label  "chokers"  a tag cruelly attached due to repeated heartbreaks on the world stage. But at Lord’s, that burden was finally lifted. Temba Bavuma’s South Africa defeated Australia in the World Test Championship (WTC) final, chasing down a challenging 282-run target and rewriting their cricketing narrative. However, this victory wasn't just about runs and wickets. It was about silencing decades of doubt  and, as Bavuma revealed, countering some distasteful on-field behavior from their opponents.

‘We could hear the Aussies using that dreaded word…’

Following their historic win, South African skipper Temba Bavuma didn’t hold back in his post-match comments. He shared how, even while at the crease, Australian players targeted them with taunts of “choking”  a harsh reminder of past failures. “While we were batting we could hear the Aussies using that dreaded word: choke,” Bavuma revealed. “We came in with a lot of belief and a lot of doubters… This win squashes that.”

Australia, known for their mental warfare and on-field sledging, seemingly sought to exploit South Africa’s long-standing mental block in ICC tournaments. But this time, the Proteas stood tall.

Shedding the ‘chokers’ tag

Bavuma, along with Aiden Markram, was instrumental in delivering a composed and determined run chase. Both players spoke emotionally about what it meant to finally shed the “chokers” label. “As a country, it’s a chance for us to rejoice in something… I hope it inspires and continues to inspire our country,” said Bavuma, reflecting on the broader significance of the win.

Markram, who was named Man of the Match for his magnificent century, echoed his captain’s sentiments. “It’ll be great to not have to hear that again… To have got the job done and to get rid of that is quite a big thing for this team.”

A win beyond numbers

This victory was more than just revenge  it was redemption. It was a poetic response to the haunting 1999 World Cup semi-final loss to Australia and a fitting rebuttal to the recent heartbreak in the 2024 T20 World Cup final loss to India. It signified the end of an era of near-misses and the start of a new chapter of confidence and pride.

“We got ourselves into the final, there were doubters as to the route we took,” Bavuma added. “But the way we played would have wiped all of that out.”

Indeed, for South Africa, this was a win for belief over baggage, unity over doubt, and resilience over ridicule. And for Bavuma and his team, the loudest sledge of all has now been answered  with a trophy.