Graeme Smith lifts South Africa captain Temba Bavuma’s spirits with special message ahead of WTC Final

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As the cricketing world turns its attention to the historic Lord’s Cricket Ground for the ICC World Test Championship Final 2025, former South African captain Graeme Smith has come forward with a deeply emotional message for Temba Bavuma and the current Proteas team.

The final, scheduled to begin on June 11, presents South Africa with a golden opportunity to win their first major ICC trophy in over 20 years. Their opponents, defending champions Australia, led by Pat Cummins, will be determined to hold onto the Test mace they secured in 2023 against India. For Smith, this upcoming final is not just another match. It stirs memories of 2012, when he captained South Africa to a landmark Test series win over England at Lord’s, a triumph that saw the Proteas rise to the No. 1 ranking in Test cricket. Being the last South African skipper to lift the Test mace at this venue, Smith’s message was rich with nostalgia, national pride, and faith in South Africa’s current generation. In a message filled with encouragement, Smith expressed unwavering support for Bavuma and the squad.

“We’re right behind Temba and the team. As the last man who held the mace at Lord’s in 2012, it would give me great pleasure to see Temba and this group of players lift it. All South Africans should unite and support the team on this important mission,” Smith was quoted as saying by News18.

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Reflecting on his personal experiences, Smith spoke warmly about the magic of playing at Lord’s.  He painted a vivid picture of the iconic venue, the grand Members’ Stand, the slow descent from the dressing room, and the buzz of walking onto the field. Smith’s 2003 memories were powerful, as he scored a double hundred and witnessed Makhaya Ntini take 10 wickets. The 2012 win, however, remains the crowning moment of his career.

“Lord’s is a special, special place. Right from when I watched South African teams play there as a youngster, there were always positive memories. There’s so much that comes with it and getting that out the way as you build into playing your games there is important. There’s nothing like walking down the stairs through those Member stands and out to a packed Lord’s. It’s an incredible feeling, one of those goosebump moments in your career. It’s something that I really cherish. For me personally – in 2003, going there, getting a double hundred – winning the Test match and Makhaya getting 10 wickets is the most incredible first experience of Lord’s. In 2012 we were a team that was in its prime. We had so many incredible players, we were a great unit with a good coaching staff. We were tight, we were a family, and we had a lot of really outstanding players that had come in and been hugely successful,” Smith concluded.

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