When Temba Bavuma held the ICC Test Championship mace high at Lord’s, he didn’t just break a 27-year-old curse ; he rewrote the story of South African cricket in the most personal way possible. Moments after South Africa clinched a tense five-wicket win over Australia in the World Test Championship Final,

Temba Bavuma, whose appointed as South Africa’s first black African Test captain in 2023 was met with scepticism, led South Africa to their first ICC world title on Saturday.

South Africa captain Temba Bavuma revealed a desire to emulate the Springboks’ all-conquering rugby team after the WTC final win over Australia at Lord's.

Bavuma, hence, became the second captain, after Percy Chapman in the 1920s, to win nine of their first ten Tests, and the second captain after Warwick Armstrong, also in the 1920s, to go unbeaten in his first ten Tests.

The first Black batter to make a century for South Africa has led them to World Test Championship glory – but wider issues within the format must be solved to save it

Temba Bavuma scripted history after he led South Africa to a win in the World Test Championship 2025, beating Australia in the final. Bavuma entered the record books after breaking a huge captaincy record.

Temba Bavuma's pain-defying epic at the Lord's helped South Africa lift the WTC trophy and break 27-year ICC curse