"To be able to stand up and perform like that when your team needs you the most is what reputations are made of. I think everyone has always known how good a player Markram was," Ponting added. Markram,

Australia's wicketkeeper Alex Carey, right, reacts as South Africa's Aiden Markram plays a shot on day three of the World Test Championship final between South Africa and Australia at Lord's cricket ground in London, Friday, June 13, 2025. Credit: AP/Kirsty Wigglesworth

Aiden Markram and Temba Bavuma didn't have the pleasure of finishing off what they started. No problem. South Africa won the World Test Championship and that's all that mattered to them. It was fitting that Markram and Bavuma led the comeback with the bat as South Africa beat Australia by five wickets by completing a run chase of 282 at Lord's on the fourth day Saturday.