Father’s Day Proteas: Father and Son Cricket Celebrated at Lord’s

Celebrating the Bond: South African Fathers, Sons and Cricket on Father’s Day

On Father’s Day, Sunday 15 June 2025, the Proteas woke up in London to a relief unlike any other—a lie-in after lifting the ICC World Test Championship mace, and moments later, diapers and breakfast replaced the revelry. Yet, the echoes of Lord’s victory held one powerful image: captain Temba Bavuma, mace in one hand, his young son wearing Test cap number 85 in the other—a moment that define fatherhood and cricket.

Bavuma: From Captain to Dad Icon

Temba Bavuma, whose name means "Hope" in Zulu, reflected on how the dual roles have shaped him. “Fatherhood has definitely changed me as a person… gives you someone else to play for,” he said proudly. His gentle walk around the Lord’s outfield—with mace in one hand, son in the other—is now sharing spaces with iconic cricket images like Michael Holding’s fist pumps. Fans across social media celebrated it as proof that father and son cricket bonds go beyond the boundary rope.

First Father’s Day for Maharaj

For left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj, this Father’s Day in London held special depth. His young daughter joined him at Lord’s—just days before, she'd been a whisper of hope in the outfield. Maharaj confessed: “It is my first one as a father… my dream was to have my daughter… with a winner’s medal on her”. His tears, shared with Graeme Smith in the immediate aftermath, spoke to the convergence of personal pride and national watershed.

Generational Continuity in the Proteas

These weren’t lone stories. South African cricket has long thrived on generational lineage. Aiden Markram and Kagiso Rabada both have fathers who cheered them on at under-19 and senior levels, present at Lord’s when history was made. Corbin Bosch, now a Test world champion, grew up in the shadow of father Tertius Bosch, a key fast bowler during South Africa’s readmission era. Lungi Ngidi, who lost his father Jerome in 2018, surely felt his presence as the pace spear dismantled Australia.

Shukri Conrad: The Team’s Father Figure

The coaching staff features its own paternal anchor, Shukri Conrad. He admitted he sometimes plays a "father figure role" to players close in age to his own children—“they give me headaches… keep me young”. Conrad’s humor and stern kindness underscored the deep trust players have in their mentors, affirming that cricket is truly a family sport.

A Platform for Little Ones

Lord’s wasn’t just home to sons or daughters of current players. AB de Villiers watched history unfold alongside his boys, cheering each run. Around the world, children watched on livestreams, feeding dreams of one day donning a South African cap. Today’s victory lap was both an endpoint and a spark—lighting countless backyard sessions across the nation.

Fatherhood’s Impact on Performance

Research shows that fatherhood often brings clarity and calmness to elite athletes—traits evident in Bavuma’s calm yet strategic captaincy, especially during his 66-run innings on a torn hamstring . Maharaj’s emotional release underlined how fatherhood lends deeper personal motivation beyond medals and moments.

Cultural Resonance and National Unity

Bavuma, Rabada, Maharaj, Ngidi—this team mirrors a diverse modern South Africa. Their on-field blend—Black, white, Indian-origin players—resonates across racial and cultural divides. As Bavuma noted, this win “may be a stepping stone… for us as a nation, divided as we are, to unite”. A Father’s Day framed not just by familial pride, but by national solidarity.

Memories That Will Last

The tangible moments—Bavuma lifting mace with son, Maharaj teary-eyed, families in stands—touched a chord. Even Lord’s staff recognized the occasion as extraordinary . Social media buzzed as fans acknowledged not just a trophy, but the embodiment of cricket’s timeless connection to family.

Looking Ahead: Inspiring Tomorrow’s Cricketers

These symbolic gestures matter. A child seeing their dad hoist an ICC trophy plants the seed for future greatness. Father-son roads are walked in nets, at fields, in backyards—so today’s legends become tomorrow’s stars. South Africa’s win ensures a new generation imagines their own walks onto the Lord’s turf.

Father’s Day Across the Globe

Cricket-bound families in India, England, Australia, and beyond shared Sunday breakfasts around screens, reliving every wicket and run. Fatherhood is global—united in cheering on cricketers, by blood or by love of the game.