The South African national cricket team returned home to a thunderous reception at Johannesburg’s OR Tambo International Airport on June 18, 2025, after winning the World Test Championship for the first time in history. Captained by Temba Bavuma, the team was greeted by government officials, proud fans, and young cricketers from across the country, all there to celebrate the return of their World Test Champions.
The mood at the airport was electric as supporters waved flags and cheered on their heroes. The team had just secured a five-wicket victory over Australia in the WTC final, ending South Africa’s long drought without an ICC trophy. The win is being hailed as one of the country’s most significant sporting achievements, especially after years of heartbreak in ICC tournaments.
Key Tournament Facts
- Event: ICC World Test Championship Final 2025
- Winner: South Africa
- Opponent in Final: Australia
- Victory Margin: 5 wickets
- Return Date: June 18, 2025
- Welcome Location: OR Tambo International Airport, Johannesburg
- Captain: Temba Bavuma
- Head Coach: Shukri Conrad
- Last ICC Title: 1998 ICC KnockOut Trophy (now Champions Trophy)
- Upcoming Fixture: South Africa vs Zimbabwe Test Series (Starts June 28, 2025)
A United Homecoming Celebration
Among those welcoming the team was Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie, alongside hundreds of fans, students, and family members. Schoolchildren from KFC’s Mini Cricket programme and players’ former schools were also in attendance, adding to the emotion of the event. Players wore custom “champions” shirts, signed autographs, and received flowers before moving to Cricket South Africa’s headquarters, where they were welcomed with a brass band and red carpet.
Speaking at a press conference, Temba Bavuma expressed how overwhelmed the team was by the response. “We haven’t seen people like that at the airport before. As players, we didn’t realise the magnitude of what we’d done until we saw the reaction of our people,” he said. “We’re proud as a team, but even prouder to have made South Africans proud.”
Bavuma also praised his teammates and the coaching staff, led by Shukri Conrad, for pulling together a united and determined squad. The team had nine different Players of the Match throughout the WTC 2023–25 cycle, with 15 players contributing either a century or five-wicket haul — proof of a collective effort and depth in talent.
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A Milestone for South African Cricket
This victory is South Africa’s first ICC title in 27 years and comes after several near-misses in World Cups and T20 tournaments. The loss to Australia in the 1999 ODI World Cup semi-final, the heartbreaks of 2015 and 2023, and the 2024 T20 World Cup final all added weight to the significance of the WTC win.
Enoch Nkwe, Director of National Teams, called the triumph “massive” for South African cricket. “We’ve taken many punches but never bent our backs. This victory will inspire generations to come,” he said. Nkwe’s leadership led to the appointment of Conrad and Bavuma, both of whom now play crucial roles as the team looks ahead to future challenges.
Conrad will coach the white-ball teams until the end of the 2027 ODI World Cup, which will be co-hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia. Bavuma, also the ODI captain, said the team is optimistic about carrying their Test momentum into the limited-overs format. “There’s no reason we can’t do the same in white-ball cricket,” he stated.
Although the next WTC cycle and a T20 World Cup are on the horizon, South Africa’s players are taking time to celebrate this historic moment. Their next assignment is a two-Test series against Zimbabwe starting June 28 in Bulawayo, although it will not be part of the new WTC cycle.
Bavuma reflected on the road ahead, “For now, it’s time to embrace what we’ve done and understand what got us here. But soon, it’s back to business — building a legacy for South African cricket.”
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who did South Africa defeat in the WTC final?
They defeated Australia by 5 wickets.
2. When did the South African team return home?
They arrived on June 18, 2025.
3. Who is the captain of South Africa’s Test team?
Temba Bavuma is the Test captain.
4. What is South Africa’s next cricket series?
A two-Test series against Zimbabwe starting June 28, 2025.