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,

Markram, often hailed as a class talent known for his drives and composure on the pitch, but slammed for his inconsistency, put all the criticism around his place in the side to rest with an ultimate clutch knock for the ages,

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