Markram emotional, forgets WTC century celebration, AB records
The moment was deeply emotional for the South African batter, who was seen wiping away tears instead of celebrating. Markram’s century was not just a personal milestone but a defining moment, filled with pride and passion, etched into cricketing history forever.
Aiden Markram’s WTC Century: A Straight Drive for History, A Flick for Glory
There’s no perfect time in cricket to play the straight drive — that most elegant, effortless, and emphatic of cricket shots. It defies circumstance. It doesn’t demand a particular bowler, batter, or pitch condition. The straight drive stands alone, timeless and pure. But if you are Aiden Markram, you might beg to differ. For on Day 3 of the ICC World Test Championship final against Australia at Lord’s, he played one that changed everything — the game, the history, and perhaps even his career.
The bowler: Josh Hazlewood. The setting: tension-packed, with Australia throwing everything in their arsenal at South Africa’s batters. The moment: one of high pressure and rising stakes. Hazlewood, sticking to his plan, pitched it up — a probing delivery, perhaps a bait. But Markram, confident, composed, and seemingly untouched by the magnitude of the stage, stepped forward with assurance.
No extravagant flourish. No wild follow-through. The ball raced away down the ground and crossed the boundary line, beating mid-on and mid-off, who could only watch in admiration. It was more than just a boundary. It was a signal — to Australia, to the spectators at Lord’s, and to the millions watching worldwide — that South Africa meant business, and Aiden Markram was at the heart of it.
That shot took Markram to 97. Just one stroke away from what would be not only a personal triumph — his eighth Test century — but a defining knock in South Africa’s long, painful wait for an ICC title. Twenty-six years of close calls, heartbreaks, and cruel labels. This time, they were fighting not just for silverware but for redemption.
And it was Markram — calm under pressure, unwavering in belief — who stood tall amid the chaos. Alongside Temba Bavuma, he had soaked up over two hours of relentless Australian bowling. Each boundary that Markram hit wasn’t just a statistic on the scorecard; it chipped away at Australia’s hopes, slowly but steadily.
What made the innings even more special was its measured nature. After reaching 97, Markram didn’t rush. He didn’t manufacture a shot, didn’t force the pace. Just one run came off his bat in the next eight deliveries. It was a rare blend of discipline and hunger — a quality that defines champions.
The moment finally arrived late in the evening session, with stumps nearing. A weary Hazlewood, in his 16th over of the day, ran in again. Fatigue had crept into his rhythm. For the first time in a while, he missed his length and line, drifting down the leg side — a cardinal sin at this level. Markram needed no invitation. His eyes lit up like a child spotting their favorite toy. He got into position in a flash, rolled his wrists gently, and flicked the ball through square leg.
There was no fielder there. The outfield, dry and fast, did the rest. The ball sprinted away to the ropes like it had a mind of its own. And then, Lord’s erupted.
It wasn’t just a polite, traditional English applause. It was a deafening roar — raw and jubilant. Fans were on their feet, flags waved in the stands, and chants broke out as if a football team had scored a last-minute winner. South African supporters hugged each other, while Australians stood in stunned silence. And high up in the Lord’s Pavilion, former captain AB de Villiers, now a spectator, pulled out his phone to record the moment. The man who had dazzled fans with his own brand of audacity and brilliance was now capturing the new torchbearer’s milestone.
But in the midst of all that noise, Aiden Markram stood still. Tears welled up in his eyes. He looked skyward, soaking in the enormity of what he had achieved — not with arms raised or loud celebrations, but with quiet reflection. He didn’t leap or pump his fists. The emotion had overwhelmed the celebration.
In that flick to the boundary, Markram didn’t just reach a century. He gave South Africa a genuine chance at cricketing immortality — a realistic shot at their first World Test Championship title. His innings became a symbol of everything the team had endured and overcome.
Cricket, for all its numbers and statistics, is a game of moments. And on Day 3 at Lord’s, Aiden Markram created one that will live on forever — a straight drive to remember, and a flick that brought a nation closer to healing.