North 24 Parganas (West Bengal) [India], January 24: Former South African cricketer Jonty Rhodes expressed his pride and excitement as his national team reached the World Test Championship (WTC) final for the first time in the tournament’s history.
South Africa secured their spot in the one-off final after a dominant performance in the first Test against Pakistan in Centurion. This victory marked the culmination of a successful 2023-25 WTC campaign, where the Proteas won eight out of their 12 Tests. Their comprehensive 10-wicket win in the final Test sealed a 2-0 series victory and confirmed their top position on the points table.
“I’m a South African cricket player, and I’m very happy with our team reaching the WTC final for the first time. It’s a fantastic achievement to surpass some of the strongest teams in the world,” Rhodes shared with reporters.
The Proteas’ path to the WTC finals has been nothing short of a fairytale. They began the 2023-25 cycle with a shaky start, drawing 1-1 against India at home. A tough 2-0 loss to New Zealand with a second-string side led by Neil Brand raised doubts about their commitment to Test cricket. However, the return of key players sparked a turnaround, and South Africa went on to win series against the West Indies, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan—securing seven consecutive Test wins to qualify for the WTC final.
In addition to veteran players like Kagiso Rabada, Aiden Markram, and captain Temba Bavuma, emerging talents such as Ryan Rickelton, Marco Jansen, Tristan Stubbs, Corbin Bosch, and David Bedingham have made significant contributions to the team’s success.
South Africa will face Australia in the WTC final, set to take place at Lord’s on June 11.