Aiden Markram, the South African opener, has declared that the team has moved on from past failures as they prepare to face Australia in the World Test Championship (WTC) final at Lord's on Wednesday, June 11, 2025. Speaking at a press conference on Sunday, Markram addressed the concerns surrounding South Africa's history of underperforming in major tournaments, including their recent loss to India in the T20 World Cup final last year.

"This team is a bit different," Markram stated, emphasizing the fresh mindset within the Test squad under Temba Bavuma's leadership. He acknowledged the presence of players who had experienced previous disappointments but stressed that they had learned from those experiences and were now focused on the opportunity ahead. "The few of us that have been a part of previous events that didn't go our way have dealt with it, have obviously chatted to each other and made sure we've buried it nicely and taken some good lessons from it," Markram explained. "But besides from that now, it's more about the excitement of having another opportunity to actually do the job. So that's pretty much where the mind is at the moment."

South Africa secured their place in the WTC final after a dominant run, winning seven consecutive Tests. This achievement marks the Proteas' first-ever qualification for the WTC final, a significant milestone for the team. Their journey to the final included a 1-1draw against India at home, a 2-0 defeat in New Zealand, and series wins against the West Indies, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan.

However, their preparation for the final has been somewhat unconventional. South Africa last played a Test match in January 2025, when they secured their WTC final berth with a victory over Pakistan. Their scheduled four-day warm-up match against Zimbabwe in Sussex was largely affected by rain, disrupting their plans for acclimatizing to the English conditions. Despite the limited red-ball practice, Markram expressed confidence in the team's ability to adapt quickly. "A lot of our series have been two Test series, so in order to win them, you can't start slow," Markram noted. "We know the importance of starting well, trying to get ahead of the game early and how important each session is going to be because there's no second dip at it."

Markram also highlighted the significance of a strong start in the final against Australia. He acknowledged the challenge of facing the formidable Australian bowling attack, which includes world-class bowlers. As an opener, Markram recognizes his responsibility to set the tone for the team and provide a solid foundation. "When you're opening the batting, obviously your responsibility is to get the team off to a good start and get us ahead of the game," he said. "That's the challenge, that's what excites us."

While South Africa's batting lineup faces a stern test against the Australian bowlers, their own pace attack, led by Kagiso Rabada, poses a significant threat to the opposition. Markram believes that preparing against their own world-class bowlers in the nets will benefit the batsmen. "When you're preparing against your bowlers, who are world-class, it can only help you as a batter, as uncomfortable as it can be at times," Markram added.

The WTC final presents South Africa with an opportunity to break their long-standing drought in ICC tournaments. Despite having a strong team, the Proteas have often fallen short in crucial moments. Markram's confidence and the team's determination suggest that they are ready to overcome their past failures and seize the opportunity to lift the WTC trophy at Lord's.