South African batter Aiden Markram says the team has left behind their past disappointments and is fully focused on the upcoming World Test Championship (WTC) final against Australia at Lord’s.South Africa has come close to winning big tournaments before but fell short — like in the T20 World Cup 2024 final, where they lost to India despite being in a strong position.
Markram, who was captain in that match, said the players have talked about those losses, learned from them, and mentally put them behind.We’ve buried the past and are excited about this new chance, he said.Markram, who will open the batting, knows facing Australia’s strong bowling will be tough, but he’s ready for the challenge. He also said facing South Africa’s own world-class bowlers in practice helps him prepare better.
South Africa had to win several short Test series (often just two matches) to reach the final, so starting strong from day one is key.Playing the WTC final at Lord’s, a historic cricket ground, is a proud moment for Markram.
“It’s special to play a Test here, and even more special that it’s a final,” he said.
