Legendary fast bowler Allan Donald has described South Africa’s historic World Test Championship (WTC) Final victory over Australia as a moment that has “taken away 30-odd years of pain,” marking a powerful emotional release for a nation long haunted by near-misses on the global stage.
A Redemption Decades in the Making
Donald, who was part of South Africa’s infamous World Cup heartbreaks in 1992 and 1999, said the WTC triumph felt like “shutting the door on decades of disappointment.”
“It’s a massive day in South African cricket… something that unites this country so closely,” he told Cricblog.
The Proteas clinched the title with a clinical five-wicket win over Australia, ending a 27-year drought since their last ICC trophy in 1998.
From Heartbreak to Heroics
Donald’s own career was marked by painful memories—most notably the 1999 World Cup semi-final run-out against Australia. Reflecting on those moments, he said this new generation’s resilience and character had finally delivered the redemption South African cricket so desperately needed.
Aiden Markram and Bavuma Lead the Charge
The final saw Aiden Markram score a gritty 136 and Temba Bavuma anchor the chase with poise, as South Africa pulled off the second-highest successful run chase in Lord’s Test history.
A Nation United Through Cricket
Donald emphasized the unifying power of the win, calling it a “massive day in South African sport.” The victory has sparked celebrations across the country and renewed hope for a new era of dominance in red-ball cricket.
