• Home
  • Who Said What
  • We Could Hear Temba Bavuma Reveals Australias Offensive Sledging After Wtc Win

"We Could Hear…" Temba Bavuma Reveals Australia’s Offensive Sledging After WTC Win

Sakshi Sharma

Temba Bavuma opens up on Australian Sledging (Source: AP)Temba Bavuma opens up on Australian Sledging (Source: AP)

After several heartbreaks and near-misses, South Africa finally rewrote their cricketing history, defeating Australia by five wickets in the World Test Championship (WTC) Final at Lord’s on June 14. But even in the happiness of a long-awaited win, South African captain Temba Bavuma revealed the emotional toll of the victory. 

Temba cited obnoxious sledging from Australian players, who used the rude tag 'chokers'  during a crucial phase of the game.

South Africa chased down 282 runs to lift their maiden ICC title in the longest format, with Aiden Markram leading from the front with a match-winning century and Bavuma providing significant support. South Africa become the third country to win the WTC, following New Zealand and Australia.

Bavuma Exposes Australia’s Final-Day  Sledging

Bavuma after the match confirmed that the final day’s pressure was compounded by Australia’s on-field jibes that was related to the painful past of South African cricket.

"Whilst we were batting, we could hear the Aussies using that dreaded word, 'choke'. The tag of us being chokers, that came about this morning,” Bavuma said after the win. “One of their players threw out the fact we could still get bowled out ... I definitely heard that.” South Africa skipper Temba Bavuma told BBC Test Match Special as quoted by India Today. 

South Africa Creates History At Lord’s

For years, SA's cricketing identity and achievements have been overshadowed by the 'chokers' label. From rain-affected exits to late collapses, the Proteas were often undone under pressure. But not this time, they proved themselves and created history at Lord's.  

Coming into the final day needing 69 runs with eight wickets in hand, the team remained focused and earned the title "Not Chokers Anymore".

With this victory, South Africa claimed their first-ever ICC trophy since the 1998 Champions Trophy. This chase at Lord’s will now be remembered not for past failures, but for the day the Proteas stood tall under pressure and finished the job against a strong side Australia.