Welcome home the champs

TEST world champions South Africa will touch down in South Africa at O.R. Tambo International today at 9.25am.

After years of trials and tribulations, South African cricket fans finally have a meaningful reason to celebrate, as the Proteas return home with the coveted Mace.

Kagiso Rabada was one of the heroes for the Proteas as they beat Australia by five wickets, taking nine wickets in the process and narrowly missed out on the Man of the Match prize to centurion Aiden Markram. 

Of being crowned the world’s best Tets team, Rabada says: “We are a fairly inexperienced team who got put together about a year ago, we have not been with each other for a long time, and we have gone on and produced this. I’ll never forget this in my life, none of the boys will forget this.”

Of taking wickets almost at will, he adds: “I’ve been working extremely hard, those second innings spells are the ones that count a lot more – when you are a bit tired and behind in the game.

“It was just about staying calm and looking at what was in front of us. All mayhem broke loose, we got five wickets in I don’t know how many overs, it was a crazy game of cricket.

“There are normally two voices in your head – one that doubts and one that believes.

“That is the one we keep feeding, especially in big moments like this, the World Test Championship Final.

“That is why you saw the performances you saw. It is testament to our team this season.”