Graeme Smith lauds South Africa spirit in Lord's WTC25 Final tussle

Former South African captain and recently-inducted ICC Hall of Famer Graeme Smith has led the tributes for his compatriots as they march towards a World Test Championship victory.

After two days of bowlers from both sides trading blows, taking 28 wickets, it was the graft of the bowling group to finish Australia's innings in arguably the best period to bat in the Ultimate Test, before the Proteas batters moved the side into the ascendancy, and in touching distance of ending their 27-year ICC trophy drought.

Needing just a further 69 runs to win, the Proteas will continue on Day 4 through Aiden Markram (102 not out) and Temba Bavuma (65 not out), having already put on 143 runs in their third-wicket partnership.

Speaking on ICC's Digital Daily alongside Crystal Arnold upon the close of day three, Smith paid tribute to the work of the Proteas, led by his modern contemporary in Bavuma.

“We've seen such ups and downs, ebbs and flows in this Test match," Smith began.

"The game going back and forth, and South Africa fighting back from 75 behind in the first innings, bowling well, getting themselves back in the game.

“It's been an outstanding batting performance. I think your instinct always tends to lie when you've seen the pitch play a certain way for the first two days, your instincts are always going to back that Australian pace attack on that surface.

“And then today the pitch just looked like it really lost its life. And South Africa had to toil hard to get those two wickets. But in the end, what an innings from Aiden Markram, and a partnership as well (with Temba Bavuma).

“Bavuma the captain came in and you just kept saying 'extend that partnership, extend that partnership'.

“And that's what they've done. And 69 runs to go for a World Test Championship."

The pair on the whole look unflustered even in the cauldron of a World Test Championship Final at Lord's, with Markram's century stealing Day 3 headlines.

Smith felt Markram would hold the key in the chase, with his natural free-scoring flow coming to the fore.

“I actually picked him at the start of this innings. I said, 'If South Africa are going to go on to do this, he's the man' because he scores. He takes the game on and you'll keep the scoreboard ticking all the time. And he's certainly done that today.

“It's an occasion like this to see him own it and to perform. Coming off a nought in the first innings, coming out second innings under pressure.

“The performance that he put in, (it) was incredible to watch right from the get-go. He looked at good positions. He had one punch of the back foot. You thought, 'Okay, the man's here today.'

“Him and Temba will be feeling drained tonight. They still have got 69 to get. But I think tonight it's important to celebrate a great partnership and an incredible hundred."

Bavuma himself went above and beyond in his side's pursuit, building the stand alongside his partner in spite of leaving runs out in the middle, having been hampered by a hamstring struggle early in his innings.

Having been the rock so often in South Africa's batting pursuit throughout the World Test Championship cycle, the effort was no surprise to Smith watching on from the commentary box.

“It was always important. Temba’s been I think South Africa’s most consistent batter, he's looked in control. First over he obviously felt good, went up and over cover, and obviously battling the injury as well.

“And I think we mustn't underestimate that he's fought on through a sore hamstring, and really putting his country first and building that partnership with Markram.

Smith kept a close eye on South Africa's opposition in the field, largely bereft in answers as the batting pair pressed on.

The former skipper believes there was little Australia could have changed in response, though did feel a number of defensive fieldsets allowed South Africa to carry on, even with Bavuma impeded.

“I think the attack did everything they could. Maybe (Nathan) Lyon could have been a touch wider into the rough a bit more.

“He (Australian captain Pat Cummins) had quite a defensive field at times with point back and square-leg back. And I think especially with Temba’s injury, they maybe needed to force the play a little bit when they still needed 150 runs to get.

“But other than that I think you have to give credit to the South Africans. I mean, I don't want to take away from their performance, today with Aiden and Temba in particular was outstanding."

Smith has kept a close eye on the South African setup through different roles after calling time on his international career in 2014, including a stint as director of cricket at Cricket South Africa from 2019 to 2022.

Looking at the team of 2025, Smith paid tribute to a group of players who have buckled down on a quest to lift the World Test Championship mace.

“I think we've fought extremely hard over the last two to three years to really build South African cricket up again, from various people have got involved and see the team performing well on the global stage.

"Everyone wrote South Africa off before this game, disappointed South Africa were in the final.

"And now they sit on the brink of an opportunity to win that Final against a great Australian team.

"I think this will really lift the game again in South Africa - Temba holding the mace and what that will mean for the people back home."