Credit: ICC

Credit: ICC

South Africa ended their 27-year ICC title drought with a win over Australia in the final of the World Test Championship (WTC) at Lords on June 14. With this win, the Proteas would have removed the ‘Chokers’ tag from themselves which was given to them by the fans over the years. The fans used this term for South Africa for their inability to perform in big matches over the years.

After South Africa’s win over Australia at Lords, Proteas skipper Temba Bavuma revealed that he heard Australia players use the term ‘choke’ while he was batting at the crease. With 69 runs needing on day four with eight wickets in hand, the Australian players were still confident that they can bowl South Africa out and win the title. "Whilst we were batting, we could hear the Aussies using that dreaded word, choke," Bavuma was quoted as saying by India Today.

“The tag of us being chokers, that came about this morning. Tne of their players threw out the fact we could still get bowled out ... I definitely heard that,” Bavuma further added.

It's been years since we've overcome a final: Temba Bavuma

South Africa are now the champions of the third edition of the WTC from 2023 to 2025 after New Zealand (2019-21) and Australia (2021-23)? Before that, they last won an ICC event in 1998 which was the inaugural edition of the ICC Knockout Trophy (now known as Champions Trophy).

After that, the Proteas went on to perform well and make into the knockout stage of ICC events but failed to lift the title. This time, South Africa went on to soak the pressure of a final against the mighty Aussies and finally lifted an ICC trophy after 27 years. “It's been years since we've overcome a final, we've been etched in history. Now we're part of something that has never been done,” Bavuma said.