Aiden Markram’s 136 in the ICC WTC Final earns high praise from Ricky Ponting, who calls it one of the greatest final-winning knocks. South Africa’s chase of 282 ends 27 years of ICC heartbreak as Markram delivers a career-defining performance at Lord’s.
In one of the most inspiring comebacks in recent cricket history, Aiden Markram’s sublime century in the ICC World Test Championship Final at Lord’s has earned the praise of legendary cricketer Ricky Ponting, who hailed it as one of the finest match-winning knocks in ICC final history.
South Africa, who had long been haunted by knockout-stage heartbreaks in major ICC tournaments, finally broke the jinx by defeating their opponents with a spirited fourth-innings chase of 282. The hero of the match? Aiden Markram. The right-hander, after scoring a duck in the first innings, bounced back with a remarkable 136 that included 14 boundaries. His knock, which came before lunch on the fourth day, anchored South Africa’s run chase and delivered the Proteas their first ICC championship win in 27 years.
Ponting, speaking to ICC Digital, compared Markram’s knock to some of the most iconic performances in final match history.
“When you look back through big ICC events, I think the first thing that probably comes to mind is World Cup finals. And then probably Travis Head’s innings (137) in the World Cup final, and then the last World Test Championship final (163). And this one’s got to be absolutely as good as any of those,” said Ponting.
He emphasized not just the brilliance of the innings, but the context surrounding it — the pressure, the opposition, and South Africa’s long wait for a major trophy.
“Considering the stage, considering where South African cricket’s been over the last couple of years, particularly their Test side, this knock stands out. To be able to stand up and perform like that when your team needs you the most is what reputations are made of,” he added.
Markram’s journey to this moment was far from smooth. He was dropped from the South African squad for the tour of Australia in 2022/23 due to poor form. Many began to question his long-term place in the national setup. However, the gritty batter began his resurgence with a century against the West Indies and followed it with another against India at Cape Town — both hinting at a return to form but none as definitive as his innings at Lord’s.
Ponting admitted his own surprise at Markram’s exclusion during that tour.
“I must admit, a couple of years ago when South Africa toured Australia, I couldn’t believe that Aiden Markram wasn’t in that touring squad at all. He didn’t even make the squad,” he said.
“And here we are a couple of years later and he’s played probably one of his greatest knocks. I’m sure if you asked him, he’d probably say that that’s the knock that he’s most proud of in his Test career, and I am pretty sure his teammates who watched it all unfold would probably say the same thing.”
South Africa’s victory has brought jubilation back to their Test setup and reignited hopes that the Proteas can once again be a dominant force in world cricket. Markram’s performance has become a symbol of perseverance, self-belief, and rising under pressure — qualities that define legends of the sport.
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*For Ponting, a veteran of multiple ICC finals himself, Markram’s innings ranks right up there with the very best.
“It’s a great individual achievement for him, and it’s a magnificent achievement for the South African team,” concluded Ponting.
As South Africa celebrates their long-awaited ICC glory, Aiden Markram’s name is etched into history — not just as a centurion at Lord’s, but as the man who finally led the Proteas to redemption.
