The Australian cricket team made headlines with several controversies because of their repeated acts that crossed the line while sledging their opponents. Though the current team, led by Pat Cummins, has become different, even this side also crossed a line during the World Test Championship final against South Africa. Seeing the Proteas are closer to a victory on Day 4 of the WTC final at Lord’s, they are said to have used the dreaded word ‘choke’ to unsettle Temba Bavuma and his men.

During a chat after South Africa sealed the WTC final, Bavuma said on BBC Test Match Special, “While we were batting, we could hear the Aussies using that dreaded word: choke. We came in with a lot of belief and a lot of doubters. We got ourselves into the final, and there were doubters as to the route we took. This win squashes that. Here’s an opportunity for us as a nation, divided as we are, to unite.”

“As a country, it’s a chance for us to rejoice in something, to forget about our issues and really come together. I hope it inspires and continues to inspire our country. For this group of players, there were a lot of doubters but the way we played would have wiped all of that out,” he further added.

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Meanwhile, Proteas spinner Keshav Maharaj also opined on the ‘chokers’ tag that South Africa have had to live with for a long time as well.

“It’ll be great not to have to hear that again. To have got the job done and to get rid of that is quite a big thing for this team. All the questions that have been asked in the past have now been answered,” he concluded.

However, Australia skipper Pat Cummins said that there could be a need for a ‘change’ as his team looks to bounce back.

“We’ve obviously got a team here that got us to the final so it’s about when do we feel it’s the right time to change,” Pat Cummins said. “After this Test match, everyone is thrown back into the conversation so it’s a bit of a reset. It’s probably more for me and the selectors to sit down and map it out.”