Q: Half-volley to start, Aiden - maybe you just closed your eyes and it happened - but how did you sleep last night? (On 102* with 69 runs still required)
AM: Horribly to be honest. I tried to take a sleeping tablet, it didn't work. The mind just couldn't switch off. But fortunately, today wasn't ever going to be a full day, so I knew either way it would be fine. But yeah, didn't sleep too well.
Q: There were a few tears when you reached your century last nightβ¦
AM: Yeah, it was weird. Last night I was pretty emotional. From about 5:30pm, the last half hour, the game had sort of slowed down. I had a bit of time to look around and see all the fans, the family, all the mates that are there⦠and I was like, yes, we're here now. Like, we're getting close. And it caught me off guard. Obviously, then the 100 happened, and a couple of tears leaked out that I was trying to fight. In terms of today, nothing's hit me just yet, so maybe that's a good thing. But something needs to hit me soon to get out all the emotions because it's been a bit of a roller coaster.
Q: Did you have any doubts that the final 69 runs would be scored?
AM: I didn't think too much about that. It was more about not wanting to expose the next player to it. We've all been in very high-pressure situations and it can make you think differently, react differently and it's more just about not exposing guys to that if you have the opportunity to keep batting. So that's more what I was thinking. Bit of a frustration that it took quite some time to get there. But again, it was a soft ball on a slow wicket, ring field and it was always going to be slow scoring unfortunately. So, we were trying to play, trying to get it over and done with. It just wasn't working out. But there doesn't always have to be a βcomments sectionβ. It's about getting the job done!
Q: Aidan, your innings is already being spoken of as one of the most significant innings in South African test history. Did thought cross your mind while you're actually playing it?
AM: I wasn't thinking about it, to be fair. I thought a lot about the T20 World Cup last night and how hopeless I felt sitting on the side after getting out. I was like, I don't want to sit there again. So, it gave me a bit of motivation to make sure I stay at the crease if I could. But I never once thought about the achievements and what would come with it. It was always about just trying to get the job done and trying to win.
Q: Your test cap is faded, a sign of the blood, sweat and tears that you put into it. For South Africa's first world title to be a test title, and at Lordβs against Australia, what does that mean to you?
AM: Yes, it's as big and as tough as it gets. All the questions that have been asked in the past have fortunately now been answered. The test one is always going to be, in my opinion, the toughest one. It's many days of playing good cricket, whereas in a T20 or even one-day cricket nowadays you just need one person to really put their hand up on the day and you can get a win. So, it was always going to be the toughest. It was always going to be a full team effort to get over the line. Guys chipped in exactly when they needed to. Something small like Mulder's partnership yesterday, that's huge to take the sting out of the new ball. And then Temba, both his knocks were massive. Itβs not always about the massive milestones. But those guys that take the edge out of the game and get us ahead of the game and get us comfortable. It makes a big difference in finals, I feel.
Q: Aidan, obviously you were disappointed to get out but, there were just six runs to win, the crowd was chanting your nameβ¦did you take all that in? That must be an incredible feelingβ¦
AM: I wish I could have. That's me being me. When I get out, I'm always angry. I wish I could have, but at least looking at the building in front was pretty special. And then naturally the walk up was incredibly special. So at least there's one or two memories from that.
Q: Was the word βchokerβ used during the run-chase? Did you hear it being said in the fieldβ¦?
AM: It would be great to not have to hear it again, that's for sure. In terms of it motivating you, there's always going to be external things that can motivate you, but it's not your sole purpose for playing. So, to have got the job done and to get rid of that is quite a big thing for this team, I feel.
Q: The partnership of 147 with Temba was took the game away from Australia but it almost never happened. How close was he to retiring at tea on day three with his hamstring strain?
AM: Both his innings were huge. To see his hammy go was obviously a bit worrying. But then we got to tea and we chatted in the changing room. He said he felt like he could keep going. But he wanted to know from my side if the twos that are becoming ones would affect me. So, I said there's no chance. It's about partnership, staying out there for long, getting the ball even softer, even older because that's obviously when batting became a lot easier. And that's exactly what he did. And he still actually managed to run twos and threes. There was a lot of adrenaline there but a lot of leadership and character that he showed, too. And again, those maybe not the big, big numbers but the ones that really make a difference and that was Temba in this game for us.
Q: Your record against Australia is remarkable. That was your third hundred against them and your average against them is higher than against any other team. Why do you think that is?
AM: I'm not sure about figures but I think the Australians and South Africans are pretty similar and they play the game in a similar way. Play the game hard, play the game to compete, play the game to win. That brings out the best in both teams. It's just a battle. It's just competition and two teams that really don't have any interest in losing.
Q: There were/are concerns about the future of test cricket, particularly in South Africa. Might this game, and result, help with that?
AM: It's always been my most important and favourite format. Naturally, playing fewer games is not really on us, it's just sort of the cards you get dealt. But it's really important, in my opinion, to keep test cricket as the No 1 in South Africa. We understand all the dynamics that are happening in the cricket world, and that's completely fair. But it's more about the young guy coming through that his main thing is to get a test match baggy and play test match cricket for South Africa. If we can still do that it's fine for however long they play, It's always a different conversation in the world of cricket nowadays, but the No 1 priority should always be to play test cricket. I've always felt that, believed that, and if we can get that back with the younger people coming through, I think we've done well.
Q: Amazing crowd, wasnβt it? So much South African supportβ¦
AM: It was awesome! I thought we might have been outnumbered before the game, thinking that quite a few Australians would have made the trip, and there were plenty of them as well. But to have Shosholoza and those sorts of songs ringing around Lordβs is firstly very different to the normal Lordβs, but very awesome for us as South Africans to hear. Everyone came out, supported us, made the effort. Even when we got behind the eight ball, they were fully invested. Yeah, the fans have been through thick and thin with us, so I think it's just as special for them.
Q: Right from 2014 when you captained the under-19 team to the World Cup, you seem to play best on the biggest stages. True?
AM: I'm not sure about that, I got a duck in the first inning. Itβs weird - I just think it's desperation to win, to be honest. I've said it recently that I'm not here to chase numbers and stats and things like that. I really just want to win stuff for South Africa now. It's quite a nice place to be in as a player because your full buy-in is towards the team and your full care is towards everyone in the changing room and that's what you try to take care of and if things work out then great but the personal milestones and stuff like that will never be a thing now.
Q: It's an interesting measurement of the quality of your innings that every one of the Australians seemed to congratulate you on your walk back to the pavilion. Were you aware of that in your gloom?
AM: Yeah, you notice it for sure. Obviously, great touch from their side. Thereβd been quite a bit of banter they had on the field. So yeah, allβs well that ends well, I guess, itβs always nice to be appreciated from the opposition.
Q: You had a quick beer with someone in the crowd afterwardsβ¦
AM: That was one of my mates from school. He wanted me to come over and I said, Flip man, I can't, it's too busy, it's chaos. And then he was like, well, here's a beer. And I was like, OK, I'm in. So, I've had my first one for today and I'm pretty sure there'll be a few more.
