Aiden Markram has provided insight into Temba Bavuma's resilience during the World Test Championship (WTC) final against Australia, where the South African captain battled through a significant hamstring injury to contribute a crucial 66 runs. The partnership between Markram, who scored a magnificent 136, and Bavuma was instrumental in South Africa securing a historic victory, their first major men's title since 1998.
The injury to Bavuma's hamstring occurred early in his innings, causing him visible discomfort while running between the wickets. The severity of the injury prompted serious consideration at tea time on day three as to whether Bavuma should continue batting. According to South Africa's assistant coach, Ashwell Prince, there was a significant discussion about the potential impact of Bavuma's injury on his stroke play and the overall rhythm of the innings, including the ability to convert twos into ones and the feasibility of running quick singles or threes.
Markram revealed that Bavuma was primarily concerned about how his injury would affect their partnership and whether it would hinder Markram's scoring. Markram, however, was quick to reassure his captain that the priority was to maintain the partnership and extend their time at the crease. Markram was quoted saying, "He wanted to know from our side, would twos becoming ones affect me, and I said there's no chance. It's about partnership, staying out there for a long time. Getting the ball even softer, even older because then the batting became even easier. And that's exactly what he did, and he still actually managed to run twos and threes.”
Markram adjusted his own running intensity to accommodate Bavuma's injury, focusing on rotating the strike and ensuring that Bavuma could contribute without exacerbating his condition. This understanding and selflessness from Markram highlight the strong bond and mutual respect between the two batsmen. This also highlights Bavuma's commitment to the team, as he was willing to put his body on the line and bat through the pain. Bavuma noted after the match that he "wasn't at 100 per cent fitness, but I felt that I was good enough to still do the job."
The pair's 147-run stand proved to be the highest in the Test, effectively shifting the momentum in South Africa's favor. Despite the obvious pain, Bavuma's determination to stay at the crease not only provided invaluable support to Markram but also demoralized the Australian bowlers. The South African skipper's bravery also served as an inspiration to the rest of the team, who rallied around their captain's courageous effort.
Even the Australian camp acknowledged the significance of the Markram-Bavuma partnership. Australian assistant coach Daniel Vettori praised their exceptional performance, noting their ability to navigate tricky situations and apply pressure on the Australian bowlers. He admitted that the benign conditions favored the batsmen, but the resilience and adaptability shown by Markram and Bavuma were key to South Africa's success.
Bavuma's courageous innings also carried extra significance, as the Australians allegedly sledged the South Africans by reminding them of their "chokers" tag. Bavuma later revealed that this sledge was used as motivation, stating that the victory was extra special as it helped them shed the tag. Markram echoed this sentiment, expressing his hope that they would not have to hear the "chokers" tag again.
