It was a battle of talent and skill on the pitch of the International Cricket Championship (ICC) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. South Africa was pitted against Australia. The ICC Test Championship brought nine national teams from across the globe to take on each other to determine the ultimate cricket champion team. The teams compete across a two-year cycle of matches before a two-team final decides the winner. The inaugural match saw New Zealand oust India after achieving a high score in June 2021.
The 50-over World Cup is far older and has been competed for since back in 1975. Australia are the record winners having run out victorious on five occasions (1987, 1999, 2003, 2007 and 2015). England took the 2019 crown after a dramatic Ben Stokes-inspired super-over win over New Zealand at Lord’s. The shortest form of the game sees teams compete in Twenty20. The newest format has been an instant global hit with a number of hugely-lucrative competitions massively popular all over the world. Australia are reigning world champions having taken victory in the 2021 tournament.
In the Professional cricket World skill and talent are put to the ultimate test in ICC Test Championship. Nations hold these international sporting events to not only determine who has the best team but also for the prestige of attracting interest in their countries for tourism but bolstering their economies. The Proteas had a key shot to overcome the Australians. This match tested their skill and proved their worth in Cricket. The Australians were a tough team one that has always been a ruthless player when targeting the wickets. The Proteas however tested the Aussies’ metal and out manoeuvred them. The score shifted to South Africa’s favour due to raw talent being put to the opposing team.
Featuring cricket for the first (and only) time in its history, the Games hosted by Malaysia saw the two rivals progress to the final, with gold medals on offer for the victors of a major cricket tournament for the first time since England defeated France in the 1900 Olympics. Although India and Pakistan didn’t send full-strength sides, and England refused to send one at all, the likes of Sachin Tendulkar, Anil Kumble, Shoaib Akhtar, Daniel Vettori and Mahela Jayawardena all featured in the Games. The Proteas also sent a weakened team but scraped through to the tournament-decider with a one-wicket semi-final win over Sri Lanka. In their way was a full-strength Australia team, led by a determined Steve Waugh with Glenn McGrath, Adam Gilchrist, Ricky Ponting and Darren Lehmann in tow in the unfamiliar cricketing city of Kuala Lumpur.
They had steamrolled Canada, a Richie Richardson and Curtly Ambrose-led Antigua and Barduda (the West Indies weren’t permitted to play under the same flag at the Games), India and then New Zealand in the semi-final.
The ICC Test Championships is an intense tournament. Win or lose all the national teams have to give their best. The offer of gold medals for the cricket winners was well deserved and add a new dynamic to the tournament. It is surprising that tough teams such as the India, Pakistan and England did not go in to the tournament at full strength. England did not even bother to compete. India and Pakistan may not have chosen to compete at full strength due their diplomatic and political rivalries. They are still licking their wounds after air strikes on each other last year. The Proteas for their part have no political qualms and were able to turn the weaknesses of their opponents to their advantage. The Proteas still proved themselves to be a competitive professional team that even the Wallabies of Australia had a hard time overcoming.
The Proteas once again had the best of luck, talent and skill against their rivals. It wasn’t a breeze but South Africa still managed to come out on top victorious. The only matter is that they must not become intoxicated would success.
Article written by:
Yacoob Cassim
Journalist at Radio Al Ansaar
