Temba Bavuma’s South Africa Test team will face defending champions Australia in the World Test Championship (WTC) finals on the 11th of June at Lord’s cricket stadium.
After months of limited overs cricket, it will be a great moment for all cricket fans to enjoy the grueling format of Test cricket with the World Test Championship (WTC), followed by 5–match India–England Test series.
With some consistent and impressive cricket played in the World Test Championship (WTC) cycle that earned them the finals spot, South African Test cricket will hope to continue their winning streak and aim at winning their maiden ICC Test Mace and overall their second ICC title.
South Africa has only one ICC trophy in their cabinet from their Champions Trophy win in 1988.
South Africa can expect plenty of support at the Lord’s stadium, with a healthy number of expats in the city and with many fans expected to fly in to London for the Finals.
Road to the Finals – The World Test Championship (WTC) Cycle 2023- 2025
South Africa played 12 Test matches with 8 wins, 3 losses and a solitary draw
Australia played 19 Test matches with an impressive 13 wins, 4 losses and 2 draws.
Who has the edge in the World Test Championship Finals?
South Africa has been playing very consistent Test cricket, and their strength lies in their bowling and all-round skills.
While the conditions will be foreign for both teams, South African bowlers may enjoy the conditions at Lord’s.
The luxury of having star all-rounder Marco Jansen at No.8 provides the Proteas with extra safety and depth to their batting. They may bring in relatively unknown player like Corbin Bosch and may prove the surprise factor for the Proteas.
The Proteas have demonstrated excellent form in ICC events over the past two years, reaching the semi-finals of both the ICC Men’s World Cup and ICC Champions Trophy, the final of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, and now qualifying for the ICC WTC final.
Why Supersports360 believe Australians are the favorites to defend their World Test Championship title
Australians are the most consistent team in any major ICC tournament. They have the favourite tags in all formats of the game in major competitions.
Australians have proved in the past that they raise their games when put under pressure.
Former Australian player Tom Moody believes Australia holds a slight edge due to their greater experience in high-stakes matches and adaptability to changing conditions.
Whilst South Africa seeks their first ICC silverware in more than 20 years, Australia, under Pat Cummins’ leadership, aims to retain the Championship mace they secured in June 2023 beating India in the previous WTC final at the Oval.
Australia’s experience playing in England in high-pressure series like The Ashes will give the team from down under the edge. They will understand the conditions and adapt quickly as compared to the Proteas. Conditions in England change on a day-to-day basis. The adaptability of the Australians will keep them above the Proteas in the WTC Finals.
Australia has played more Test matches than South Africa in the WTC Cycle, which will give them the advantage and more in touch with the longer format of the game.
The five-day clash will be a huge shift in mindset for all players as they are coming into the tournament playing limited overs cricket for the last 5 months, including the 3-month IPL.
The Squad
Both teams have settled squad and have been playing Test cricket consistently but the makeup of the final eleven would be based on the conditions prevailing a day before in London.
South Africa
Potential South Africa XI: Aiden Markram, Tony de Zorzi, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, Temba Bavuma (c), David Bedingham, Kyle Verreynne (wk), Marco Jansen, Gerald Coetzee, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada
Other options: Dane Paterson, Wiaan Mulder, Corbin Bosch, Kwena Maphaka, Matthew Breetzke, Keegan Petersen, Senuran Muthusamy
Australia
Potential AustraliaXI: Sam Konstas, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey (wk), Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood
Other options: Josh Inglis, Scott Boland, Beau Webster, Cooper Connolly, Nathan McSweeney, Matthew Kuhnemann
Summary
The Australians have their nose ahead in this contest, and no big changes are expected from both sides.
The South Africans will surely miss the service of recently retired Dean Elgar, who was their most consistent player in this format.
Australia, on the other hand, will play around Pat Cummins’ leadership, who is back after an injury layoff in Test cricket. Travis Head and Steve Smith will lead the batting core.
The Australian side will be stronger and more dangerous with the return of Cameron Green who was out of action due to a back surgery.
World Test Championship (WTC) : Details of the Test Match – FAQs
Venue: Lord’s Cricket Ground, London
Date: Starts June 11, 2025
Reserve Day: June 16, 2025 (used only if significant time is lost)
Teams playing the 2025 World Test Championship Final?
Australia– defending champion, playing its second WTC Final
South Africa – making its first-ever WTC Final appearance
How can I watch the WTC Final in India?
Fans can watch the World Test Championship (WTC) Final 2025 live on the Star Sports Network. Online through Disney+ Hotstar.
What happens if the match ends in a draw or is abandoned?
Outcome: Joint winners — both Australia and South Africa
Applies to ties, draws, or abandoned games
Who’s officiating?
New Zealand’s Chris Gaffaney and England’s Richard Illingworth
What ball will be used?
The Dukes ball.
Also Read: Is India Test Cricket’s Only Hope?
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