Several thousand jubilant fans gathered at Johannesburg’s main airport on Wednesday to welcome home South Africa’s victorious World Test Championship team.
Led by captain Temba Bavuma, the Proteas ended a 27-year wait for a major global title with a five-wicket win over arch-rivals Australia at Lord’s last Saturday. The result sparked wild celebrations across the cricket-mad nation.
Bavuma and head coach Shukri Conrad were the first to appear, proudly holding aloft the Mace awarded to the world champions. Each player followed, clutching a bouquet of flowers, shaking hands with supporters, signing autographs, and exchanging hugs with well-wishers.
Key to the Proteas’ historic triumph was opening batter Aiden Markram, who bounced back from a first-innings duck to score a match-winning 136 in the second innings. Fast bowler Kagiso Rabada was also instrumental, claiming nine wickets across both innings in a dominant display.
The win marked South Africa’s first major ICC title since the 1998 KnockOut Trophy – now known as the Champions Trophy – ending decades of near-misses and heartbreak.
Among the crowd braving the chilly winter morning was 35-year-old accountant Brian Gabela, who said: “I had to be here and welcome the boys home. They have suffered so many heartbreaks during the past two decades. Now we are champions of the world. I was pessimistic when we trailed by 74 runs after the first innings, but a magnificent second knock from Aiden Markram turned the tide.”
[HAPPENING NOW]
The ICC World Test Champions are back home. The Proteas have arrived at the OR Tambo international airport. pic.twitter.com/WNWlFBsgPY— SABC News (@SABCNews) June 18, 2025
Receptionist Mandy Tshabalala, 37, arrived with her teenage son Monthati and admitted she feared the worst when Australia seized the first-innings advantage.
“I have supported the Proteas since I was a child. It has been so hard watching them come so close, so often, without silverware. Apart from his studies, my son spends hours following the team. Kagiso is his hero,” she said.
Later on Wednesday, the Proteas will attend a press conference at Cricket South Africa’s headquarters.
The team’s next assignment begins on 28 June, when they travel to Bulawayo to face Zimbabwe in the first of two Tests. Bavuma will remain in charge, but both Markram and Rabada will be rested.
Five uncapped players have been included in the squad, among them Titans duo Lhuan-dre Pretorius and Lesego Senokwane. Pretorius, 19, struck three centuries and averaged 72.66 in a recent domestic first-class campaign. Senokwane, meanwhile, amassed 559 runs, including two tons, in the same competition.
Both impressed for South Africa A against West Indies A and are now being rewarded with full call-ups.
Following the Test series, South Africa will remain in Zimbabwe to compete in a seven-match T20 tournament involving Zimbabwe and New Zealand in Harare.
