Aiden Markram's long walk back to the pavilion at the end of his epic, trophy-seizing century, ought by rights to have been one of the proudest, most self-reflective moments of his life. With a mere six runs still needed for World Test Championship glory,

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

Markram refocused well enough to take South Africa to stumps needing only 59 more runs with eight wickets in hand. They won by five wickets 16 minutes after the start of what would have been Lunch on Saturday to earn their first ever senior global trophy and their first ICC silverware since 1998.