10th June 2025 T minus 1 day and counting.
The stage is set, the table is laid, and the die is cast. The English language seems to have an infinite number of ways to tell us that we are ready for the main event.
The question of the players who will grace the turf at the home of cricket has been answered. Now it is up to these modern-day gladiators to face the ultimate test. The eyes of the cricketing world will be glued to the battle for the WTC Mace.
There are many that have come from far and wide to be at this hallowed ground. Both Temba Bavuma and Pat Cummins made mention of the fans that will have made the pilgrimage to Lord’s. The great sporting rivalry of these two nations is not lost on their supporters.
The die-hards are actors in their real-life version of Planes, Trains and Automobiles. They have winged their way from Bloemfontein and Brisbane, found an AirBnB somewhere close to a Jubilee Line station, and planned their route to the ground, not once, but many times.
As sure as the clouds that always bedevil an English summer, the fans will be here. Thousands will take the long escalator ride up from the bowels of St John’s Wood Underground Station. Wellington Road is set to teem with green and gold, as both Saffers and Aussies surge towards the North Gate.
As you enter the ground and walk to your seat in the Grandstand on the Western side, you will encounter the impressive Father Time wall. It is the stuff of cricketing legend. Donald Bradman, Graham Gooch, Graeme Smith, Rachel Heyhoe-Flint, James Anderson, Shane Warne… I stood there, letting this all sink in. So many famous names, so many unforgettable games.
It makes me reflect on the ICC Hall of Fame event held at the iconic Abbey Road Studios. Did I say it was yesterday? Struggling to find additional humorous Beatles references, let me rather focus on South Africa’s two newest inductees.
After the formalities are over, the South African journalists have the chance to speak to both Hashim Amla and Graeme Smith. Hashim and Graeme are humbled to be compared to the other greats of the game. We have no doubt that they deserve to be in this company.
The two hall-of-famers are asked about the new generation of SA Test cricketers. They have the opportunity to emulate Smith’s team in lifting the WTC Mace. The 2012 generation was extraordinary. Smith, Kallis, Amla, de Villiers, Steyn, Morkel, Philander.
Hashim perhaps says what a lot of us are feeling about this team. He talks about the lack of experience and the comparison to the 2012 team: “ (at the) moment (the team) hasn’t had enough time to get to those numbers. (talking of test caps). Given that they haven’t played as much as a team, and if you put the experience levels together, what they’ve achieved has been amazing. Obviously, no one would have given this Proteas team a chance of getting to the final maybe a year or two ago.
But they won the matches they needed to and they won them well.”
He is also clear on what he thinks will be the key for South Africa: “You win test matches and you win test championships based on your bowling. All great teams have a great bowling attack and fortunately, you’ve got some quality bowlers in the South African team, which has led to them being here.”
South Africa wrestled the number one Test ranking from England at Lord’s in 2012. Amla’s 121 in the second innings and Philander’s 5/30 saw them to a famous win and a series victory. Can the class of 2025 defy the odds that appear to be stacked against them?
With the heroes of the past resolutely behind them, and South Africans and their diaspora descending on Lord’s, Bavuma’s men will have no lack of support.
Will their names be etched onto the walls of Lord’s? It is only Father Time that will tell…
1 more sleep…
