- June 16, 2025
As a South African cricket supporter, you are familiar with heartbreak, rain rules, awful exits, and the terrible label of “chokers.” But in 2025, out of nowhere, hope. South Africa is winning the World Test Championship (WTC) mace against Australia at Lord’s. The excitement is genuine. Before we celebrate, let’s rewind and ask: When was the last time South Africa even won an ICC trophy?
1998: The Year It All (Finally) Came Together
Return with me to the year 1998—the last time that South Africa had won an ICC trophy as the senior men’s team. The ICC Knockout Trophy. Managed in a single series by Hansie Cronje, this was a machine of a team that won the final against the West Indies by 4 wickets, and Jacques Kallis, for an incredible all-round performance, was adjudged Man of the Match.
South Africa, the near-miss nation. From shattered dreams in ’99 to the rain curtain of ’03, capped by a 2015 semi-final that turned into a cricketing demolition derby against New Zealand. Somehow, they were good at falling just short.
2014: The U19 Breakthrough That Offered Hope
Although the senior squad found 2014 to be a challenge, the U19 squad heading into South Africa was a strong team. Under the captaincy of Aiden Markram, who we could count on, it delivered a bit of hope for South African cricket fans. There was never any doubt about Markram’s captaincy, and his team marched through the U19 World Cup in the UAE. In the final against Pakistan, Markram played a solid innings of 66 off 125 balls, at first laying the foundation of the chase but ultimately steering the youngsters to the ICC title, for which South African cricket has been yearning for some years. There’s a renewed hope on the horizon for cricket in South Africa.
Markram – the former U19 captain and first glimmer of light to come out of a dark time in South African cricket- is back. Leading from the front again – this time in a WTC Final, and with the same calmness and intent that lit up South African cricket 10 years ago.
2025: Lord’s, Leadership & A New Chapter
Let’s go to today. South Africa is in a commanding position, with only Day 3 underway, they are 213/2 chasing 282, following an unbroken 143-run partnership between Markram (102) and Temba Bavuma (65). They require just 69 more runs for their first piece of Test cricket immortality.
What’s added to the affair is that it’s more than just running; it’s redemption. Bavuma has always been under pressure in his role as captain, and he has stepped up. Markram was once seen as a young leader, and now he looks like the man who can get South Africa out of its 27 years of ICC title hurts at the senior level.
This isn’t just an outstanding Test performance—it’s a symbolic change. For the first time in a while, South Africa is not only competing, they are dominating an ICC final, appearing confident, composed, and unshackled.
So, whenever since South Africa lifted an ICC trophy? The senior team did it in 1998. The U19 team did so under Markram in 2014. And now here in 2025, they are staring it down again—this time, on the biggest Test stage, at Lord’s, against one of the world’s best.
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