'That's what reputations are made of' - Ricky Ponting lauds Aiden Markram after WTC final heroics

Ricky Ponting lavished praise on Aiden Markram for his epic century in the fourth innings of the World Test Championship (WTC) final, which helped South Africa beat Australia by five wickets at the Lord's Cricket Ground last week. Markram scored a gritty 136 off 207 balls, hitting 14 boundaries, as South Africa chased a 282-run target to lift their first ICC title in 27 years.

Ponting, who scored a match-winning century in the ODI World Cup final in 2003 against India, understands the enormous pressure that is associated with a big match. He spoke about Travis Head's centuries against India in the WTC final in 2023 and the ODI World Cup final against the same opposition later that year. The former Australia captain said that the Markram century is right up there with Head's centuries, especially considering the additional pressure the Proteas batter would have been under due to South Africa's long-standing ICC title drought.

"When you look back through big ICC events, I think the first thing that probably comes to mind is World Cup finals," Ponting told ICC Digital. "And then probably Travis Head's innings (137) in the World Cup (2023) final, and then the last World Test Championship final (163). And this one is got to be absolutely as good as any of those, considering the stage, considering where South African cricket's been over the last couple of years, particularly their Test side."

Ponting said that Markram's performance against Pat Cummins and Co. in the biggest red-ball fixture of the year has helped him enhance his reputation.

"To be able to stand up and perform like that when your team needs you the most is what reputations are made of. I think everyone has always known how good a player Markram was," Ponting added.

Markram, who led South Africa to the finals of the 2024 T20 World Cup, won the Player of the Match award for his stellar display with the bat in the WTC final.