Temba Bavuma creates history as the first captain to lift the WTC mace without a single defeat

Temba Bavuma, the captain of South Africa, was instrumental in this triumph and kept his perfect Test record. The Proteas lost to India in the 2024 T20 World Cup Final, although they had a chance to end their title drought. In the WTC cycle, however, Temba Bavuma led South Africa with outstanding consistency, winning seven of eight games and drawing one.

As captain, Temba Bavuma has nine victories and one draw in Test matches.

South Africa ended their 27-year ICC trophy drought at Lord’s Cricket Ground in London by defeating Australia in the World Test Championship (WTC) Final 2025. After years of close calls, they eventually raised the WTC mace in the 1998 ICC Knockout Trophy, their final significant ICC victory.

Temba Bavuma scored 36 in the first innings and a game-winning 66 in the second, despite sustaining a hamstring injury early in the second innings. He and Aiden Markram’s 147-run third-wicket partnership was crucial to winning. Ted Dexter, a former England cricketer, is the only player to beat Temba Bavuma record of nine consecutive 30-plus runs in Test cricket, with 11 consecutive 30-plus scores. With the victory, South Africa’s winning run reached eight straight Test matches, which is the second-longest in history.

In the first innings, Australia scored 212 runs, led by Steve Smith (66) and Beau Webster (72). Kagiso Rabada also had an outstanding game, taking five wickets. With the aid of Pat Cummins’ brilliant six-wicket haul, South Africa was knocked out for 138 after struggling in their opening innings.

Mitchell Starc scored 58 as Australia rallied for 207 runs in their second innings. Rabada, however, took four more wickets. Aiden Markram, who opened with a spectacular 136, led the Proteas to a historic victory and their first ICC crown in 27 years, forcing South Africa to chase 282 runs.

Most consecutive Test captain scores of 30 or more