ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2025 Final: Australia vs South Africa
Match: The upcoming ICC World Test Championship final features Australia vs South Africa
Dates: 11–15 June 2025 (16 June reserved day)
Venue: Lord’s Cricket Ground, London
Time: Toss at 2:30 PM IST, play begins at 3:00 PM IST
Team Preparations & Records
Australia – Defending Champions
- WTC 2023–25 cycle: Played 19, won 13, lost 4, drew 2
- Captain: Pat Cummins – ranked No. 2 in bowling with 73 wickets this cycle (behind Jasprit Bumrah’s 77)
- Strong pace attack: Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon — combined over 1,500 Test wickets
- Key batters: Usman Khawaja (Australia’s top scorer in WTC), Steve Smith, Travis Head
South Africa – First WTC Final Appearance
- WTC 2023–25: 12 matches, 8 wins (69.44%) – topped the points table
- Captain: Temba Bavuma
- Key players: Aiden Markram, David Bedingham (team’s top scorer with 645 runs), Kagiso Rabada (leading bowler)
- Bowling strike: Rabada dubbed “the best bowler in the world”
Historical Context
- First Test between these teams: 1902 — since then, 101 Tests: Australia won 54, South Africa 26, 21 draws
- At Lord’s: 147 Tests played so far; teams batting first won 53 times, those bowling first won 43 times
Pitch & Conditions
- Initially supports fast bowlers; spinners may also make an impact as the match progresses
- With Duke balls, expect morning bounce and swing; as the wicket wears, batting becomes easier
- Chase in the fourth innings is historically challenging (~166 runs average target)
Weather Outlook
- 11 June: Light clouds, warm breeze, only 8–10% chance of rain, 24–25 °C
- 12–13 June: 60–65% chance of rain during the day, 25–28 °C
- 14–15 June: Clear skies with light cloud, perfect for play
Prize Money
- Winner: USD 3.6 million (≈ ₹30 crore)
- Runner-up: USD 2.16 million (≈ ₹18.5 crore)
Strategic Overview
- Key battles: Steve Smith’s batting vs South Africa’s spin; fast bowling will be crucial
- Australia’s strength: Experienced pace quartet — Cummins, Starc, Hazlewood, Lyon; well-rounded squad
- South Africa’s edge/weakness: Lack of Test experience versus Australia, but riding confidence after seven consecutive wins
- Bavuma has highlighted their plan to pressure Australia’s new openers, with mid-innings focus on Markram–Mulder
Lessons for India
India finished third after losing the last two series — showing that consistency, strategic planning, and strong bowling in all conditions are essential to reach the top.
Conclusion
Australia aims for back-to-back WTC titles, while South Africa seeks their first-ever ICC trophy. Lord’s pitch should aid fast bowlers, but the true test will be over these five days. Both teams are strategically primed — and this final will decide which side overcomes pressure and claims the crown.
