Aiden Markram says South Africa can reach second straight World Test Championship final

On October 26, 2026, Aiden Markram said he believes South Africa can reach a second consecutive World Test Championship final, speaking in comments quoted by ESPNcricinfo. The Proteas enter the 2025-27 cycle as defending WTC champions and Markram framed the goal as a primary target for the team.

South Africa became world Test champions for the first time by defeating Australia by five wickets at Lord’s in 2025, with Markram contributing a match-winning 136 in the final. Their route to the 2023-25 WTC final included a run of seven consecutive Test wins during the closing stages of that cycle. Having completed that difficult campaign and claimed the title, the side are determined to build on the historic triumph.

"I believe we can make the [WTC] final again. A lot was said last year about us making the final and the road to it, so now there's an extra fire and desire to get into the final, because we would have had to do it the extremely hard way," Markram said, as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.

South Africa are currently third in the 2025-27 WTC standings, with 48 points and a points percentage of 66.67 after six Tests. Australia lead the table and New Zealand occupy second place, while Bangladesh are fourth with a points percentage of 55.56 and India sit on 51.52 per cent.

The immediate focus for Temba Bavuma’s side is the ongoing Test series against Australia: after losing the opening Test in Durban, South Africa won the second Test in Gqeberha by an innings and 31 runs to level the three-match series at 1-1. Bavuma’s 179, Marco Jansen’s five-wicket haul and a strong collective bowling effort powered that comeback.

With a demanding schedule still ahead, Markram said the Proteas cannot afford to ease off; their title defence remains a work in progress but the ambition is to get another shot at the WTC crown. South Africa will contest the series decider at Newlands in Cape Town.