Temba Bavuma Reveals Australia's Sledging Tactics in WTC Final

Controversial Tactics in the WTC Final

Australia faced defeat in the World Test Championship Final against South Africa, but their history of on-field controversies, often stemming from aggressive sledging, is well-documented. Under the leadership of Pat Cummins, the current team is generally seen as more composed, yet they appeared to overstep boundaries during the championship match against South Africa.

As South Africa approached victory on the fourth day at Lord's, reports indicated that Australian players resorted to using the term 'choke' in an effort to unsettle Temba Bavuma and his teammates. It seemed that the Australians were determined to disrupt the crucial partnership between Bavuma and Aiden Markram.

After South Africa secured the title, Bavuma revealed in a post-match interview that he clearly heard the word 'choke' while batting, indicating the psychological tactics employed by Australia to distract them.

“While we were at the crease, we could hear the Australians using that dreaded word: choke,” Bavuma stated on BBC Test Match Special. “We entered the final with strong belief despite the skeptics. This victory silences those doubts. It’s a moment for our nation, divided as we are, to come together.”

“This is a chance for us to celebrate something positive, to set aside our issues and unite. I hope this inspires our country. For this group of players, there were many doubters, but our performance has proven them wrong,” the South African captain concluded.