Legendary fast bowler Dale Steyn was visibly emotional after South Africa clinched their maiden World Test Championship (WTC) title by defeating Australia in a thrilling five-wicket final at Lord’s. This monumental win ended South Africa’s 27-year drought for an ICC trophy—their last major title coming back in 1998 when they won the KnockOut Trophy.
Steyn, who was around 15 years old at the time of that triumph, has longed to see his nation lift another major international trophy. While he had an illustrious career with 93 Tests, 125 ODIs, and 47 T20Is under his belt, an ICC title had eluded him as a player, most painfully during the heartbreaking semi-final loss to New Zealand in the 2015 ODI World Cup.
“I’ll Take My Son for a Walk and Life Will Carry On”
Speaking to Star Sports after the final, Steyn struggled to hold back tears while reflecting on the historic win and its significance. Holding his Test cap proudly, the former pacer said, “I mean, what do you do? I’ll take my son for a walk and life will carry on,” before pausing and tearing up. It was an overwhelming moment not just for Steyn but for millions of South African cricket fans who had waited decades to celebrate such a moment. The victory came after South Africa chased down a target of 282, thanks to Aiden Markram’s outstanding knock of 136 and a gritty 66 by captain Temba Bavuma.
A Perfectly Structured Final
Steyn credited the win to key performances in critical moments, praising the structure and intensity of the match. He noted, “I felt like the support at Lord’s – especially from the English fans – was in South Africa’s favour too. Maybe it had a little to do with the Ashes rivalry, but that backing helped.”
He went on to commend the top performers: “KG Rabada with the wickets, Pat Cummins delivering too, Mitchell Starc with wickets and runs, Aiden Markram contributing late, and Temba Bavuma steering the side home.” Steyn concluded, “It was a fantastic final, I’m just thrilled for South Africa – they’ve finally won a trophy they’ve been chasing for a long time.”
This victory was not only a redemption for the team but also a healing moment for players like Steyn who gave their all to the game without ever lifting an ICC trophy themselves.
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