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[PICTURES] World Test Championship 2023-25

BouncerGuy said:
Standings after the 3rd test is drawn between Australia and India

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India need to win MCG test than draw the Sydney even india lose ,SL series win over Australia means australia will not qualified for final .

South Africa 95% chances
Australia -60%
India - 50%
 
You can say what you like about Pakistan. We have been written off this whole world test championship cycle. But when the chips were down we rose up and summoned some spirit to potentially knock India out of the running for the final too.
 
Another ICC final defeat loading for South Africa in June 2025.

Whichever team qualifies out of India/Australia will have a big time party against this pathetic South African batting line-up at Lords. Add in to the mix their choking abilities and it's already a foregone conclusion.

Only chance they had was if some mental midget mediocre team like Pakistan had somehow made it to the final. Alas!
 
FearlessRoar said:
South Africa qualifies for the WTC 2023-25 final with a thrilling 2-wicket win against Pakistan in the first Test

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First World Test Championship 2025 Finalist confirmed

South Africa’s win against Pakistan in Centurion saw Temba Bavuma and Co. make the cut for the summit clash scheduled to be played at Lord’s next year.

Grafting a strong batting effort, South Africa clinched the first of two Tests against Pakistan by two wickets and booked their slot in the 2025 ICC World Test Championship (WTC) Final.

The Proteas were already on top of the WTC standings after a 2-0 series sweep against Sri Lanka at home. Having played 11 Tests in the ongoing cycle, South Africa boast seven wins and a 66.67%.

Having started off the ongoing cycle with a drawn series at home against India, followed by a clean sweep at the hands of New Zealand, the Proteas bounced back with impressive wins away from home against West Indies and Bangladesh, followed by dominant displays at home.

The Temba Bavuma-led side pipped Australia, India and Sri Lanka – who are also in contention – to become the first team to book a spot in the Final at Lord’s next year, barring any point deductions owing to slow-over rate.

Requiring a win to confirm qualification, South Africa had been dealt early blows by Pakistan late on the third day after the visitors had set up a total of 148. At Stumps on Saturday, the Proteas were three down for 27.

But starting the day's play on Sunday, skipper Temba Bavuma combined alongside Aiden Markram to restore some calm, but Pakistan forged another comeback with pacer Mohammad Abbas snapping six wickets in the second innings.

The Proteas were left teetering at 99/8 when Kagiso Rabada (31*) joined Marco Jansen (16*) in the middle. The duo combined to add runs for the ninth wicket to seal the win.

Earlier, South Africa had won the toss and elected to field first in Centurion.

The hosts were put in the driving seat after Dane Paterson (5/61) and debutant Corbin Bosch (4/63) ran through the visiting batting on the opening day.

With Pakistan putting a fight back with the ball, Aiden Markram and Corbin Bosch gritted it out with the bat to help the home team gain a 64-run lead in the first innings.

Despite half-centuries from Babar Azam and Saud Shakeel, Pakistan were unable to capitalise with the bat and post a challenging total.

Marco Jansen was the pick of the bowlers for the Proteas, snapping the third fifth-wicket haul of his career as Pakistan bundled out for 211.

The hosts eventually managed to chase down the total in the most dramatic of ways to make it to the WTC Final for the first time.

www.icc-cricket.com

First World Test Championship 2025 Finalist confirmed

South Africa’s win against Pakistan in Centurion saw Temba Bavuma and Co. make the cut for the summit clash scheduled to be played at Lord’s next year.
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Congrats SA. At one point SA was ridiculed for not taking tests seriously. They managed to miraculously enter final by not having home series white wash lol
 
This match is obviously going to be draw.If Ind lose next match they are out because even if SL win 2-0 vs Aus it is SL who will play final
 
Standing after Australia defeated Indian in the 5th test match of the BGT 2024/25:

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Bavuma on WTC Final - “Prepared to run through a brick wall to make sure we win”

The Proteas skipper opened up on the richly-awaited summit clash between South Africa and Australia scheduled to be played at Lord’s in June.

South Africa Test captain Temba Bavuma believes leading his country in their maiden ICC World Test Championship (WTC) Final is the highest point of his Test career since making debut in 2014.

Speaking to the reporters after the hosts capped off a 2-0 series sweep against Pakistan on 6 January, Bavuma said, “The highest point (is) probably now, qualifying for the (World Test Championship) Final.

“That - next to me making my debut for South Africa - will be one of the biggest things.

“Hopefully, I’ll be fit around the time. That's probably the biggest achievement for myself personally, and probably for the group as well.

“We have an opportunity to do something special for the country. One thing I know is with that group of player everyone will try and run through a brick wall to make sure we get on the right side of that result.”

South Africa became the first team to make the cut for the one-off final after their win in the first Test against Pakistan in Centurion.

Their final assignment in the 2023/25 WTC cycle saw the Proteas clinch a comprehensive 10-wicket win against Pakistan to claim a 2-0 series win. Sitting on top of the the nine-team points table, South Africa have won eight off their 12 Tests during the aforementioned time frame.

Bavuma however, feels that the team is yet to deliver their best. “As much as we have got the success, I don’t think we are a well-oiled machine.

“We have seen in certain moments of the game that we have let it go too much in the opposition’s favour and it has taken some form of brilliance from us to bring it back.

“When you speak about the special factor within the team, it is our ability to find a way (to win). We are still on a journey and not close to playing 100 percent. But there is something special brewing within the team and it will be scary when we are firing on all cylinders.”

Bavuma and Co will face Australia in the WTC25 Final after the latter registered a 3-1 series win at home against India to make the cut.

When asked if the Pat Cummins-led side was the team he most looked forward to facing in the final, Bavuma replied, “Look, if I can choose one team, probably not Australia. But I mean it is what it is, right?

“We’ll prepare as well as we can for Australia. Probably, more mentally, like you say, to have those conversations, probably the guys who have been in those positions more than the younger guys, you don’t want to burden them with whatever baggage that we come with.

“We’ll obviously have to adjust our processes for the conditions in England and obviously the opposition as well. But we’ll stay true to that. And we’ll go out and fight, whatever happens, we’ll go out and fight.”

The World Test Championship 2025 Final shall be played at Lord’s from 11-16 June this year.

ICC
 
Pakistan penalised for slow over-rate in second South Africa Test

The visitors were slashed match fees and also deducted World Test Championship points for failing to meet the minimum quota of overs in the allotted time during the second Test in Cape Town.

Pakistan players have been fined 25 percent of their match fee owing to a slow-over rate from the recently concluded second Test against South Africa in Newlands, Cape Town.

Furthermore, five World Test Championships points have been deducted from the team’s account after they were ruled to be five overs short of the mark with time allowances taken into consideration.

The penalties have been levelled after Pakistan's 10-wicket defeat against the Proteas in the second Test.

The sanctions are as per Article 2.22 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to minimum over-rate offences, players are fined five per cent of their match fee for every over their side fails to bowl in the allotted time.

The five WTC points were deducted as per Article 16.11.2 of the ICC World Test Championship playing conditions, which state that a side is penalised one point for each over short.

The charges were levied by on-field umpires Kumar Dharmasena and Nitin Menon, third umpire Alex Wharf and fourth umpire Stephen Harris while Richie Richardson of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referee sanctioned the penalties.

Pakistan captain Shan Masood accepted the same and pleaded guilty to the offence.

ICC
 
Latest Points Table after Pakistan suffered points deduction owing to slow over rate against South Africa in the 2nd Test.

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what is this nonsense table.

Every team should play the same number of games in order for accurate results.

The ICC a hapless joke of an organisation full of comedians.
 
Updated points table after Pakistan's victory against West Indies in the 1st test match of the series.

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BouncerGuy said:
Updated points table after Pakistan's victory against West Indies in the 1st test match of the series.

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I don't know exactly how the calculations work, but can someone explain if we had beaten Bangladesh 2 0 and win next wi test, with our record being 8 wins 6 losses would we have been in third place??

Also looks like in next cycle we have some sena teams at home again and no tough overseas tours so may be our best shot at this having found home formula, only risk is papa retiring.
 
Pakistan end dead last in the WTC 2023-25 table!

A poor end for Pakistan in the World Test Championship cycle, winning only five games across six series.

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Updated table after a mammoth victory of Australia against Sri Lanka:

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Standings after Australia completed a clean sweep against Sri Lanka in the 2-match Test series

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FearlessRoar said:
Standings after Australia completed a clean sweep against Sri Lanka in the 2-match Test series

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Click to expand...
Final WTC25 standings confirmed as Australia end their campaign on a high

A 2-0 clean sweep against Sri Lanka has helped Australia finish solidly in the 2023-25 World Test Championship.

Australia's trimuph in the Border-Gavaskar series against India helped them make their second consecutive World Test Championship Final; and a 2-0 series win against Sri Lanka helped them solidify the No.2 position on the table.

They finish on a PCT of 67.54, just behind South Africa, who topped the table at 69.44.

After securing the first Test in Galle by a massive margin of an innings and 242 runs, Australia kept up the momentum in the second with another dominating performance at the same venue.

Opting to bat first, Sri Lanka only managed to put up 257 in the first innings with Nathan Lyon spinning his web to rattle the top-order along with Matt Kuhnemann.

Only Dinesh Chandimal (74) and Kusal Mendis (85*) offered some respite for the hosts. Lyon and Kuhnemann picked up three wickets each and were ably supported by Mitchell Starc who slowed down the lower-middle and lower-order, also claiming three wickets.

In reponse, after a rocky start, the dependable pair of Steve Smith and Alex Carey came to Australia's rescue, putting up a massive double-century stand and bringing up their respective hundreds. Thanks to the duo, the visitors gained a crucial 157-run first-innings lead.

Both Lyon and Kuhnemann were equally agressive in the second innings as the Sri Lankans had no answers to their onslaught. Kusal Mendis brought up another fifty and Angelo Mathews fought with a 76 but most of the batters failed to convert their good starts.

In the end, Sri Lanka only manged a 74-run lead and with almost 2 days of play left, Australia achieved the meagre target losing just one wicket.

The end of the second match also signalled the end of Dimuth Karunaratne's Test career, who had announced his retirement earlier this week.

It was Karunaratne's 100th Test appearance for Sri Lanka and the end of a career spanning almost 13 years.

All eyes will be next on the World Test Championship Final at Lord's to be played between South Africa and Australia from 11 to 15 June 2025.

www.icc-cricket.com

Final WTC25 standings confirmed as Australia end their campaign on a high

A 2-0 clean sweep against Sri Lanka has helped Australia finish solidly in the 2023-25 World Test Championship.
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After Rose Bowl and The Oval, the third ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final is set to take place at the ‘Home of Cricket’ later this year, with Australia set to defend their title against South Africa at the Lord’s Cricket Ground from 11 to 15 June. It will be the second consecutive time that the marquee clash is hosted in the city of London, with the neighbouring Oval having hosted the 2023 final between India and Australia that the latter ended up winning by 209 runs.

From the organisers’ perspective, however, the upcoming event might not necessarily be a success. The iconic venue, however, is reportedly set to lose up to £4 million in revenue for hosting the match this summer.

According to The Times, Team India’s failure to qualify for a third consecutive WTC final has inflicted a major financial blow to the Marylebone Cricket Club, the cricket club that owns Lord’s and used to be the governing body for the sport before the formation of the ICC.

The report states that the organisers had initially priced match tickets at a premium rate keeping India as a finalist in mind, believing their demand would “outstrip supply”. However, the Rohit Sharma-led team’s failure to qualify for the final forced the MCC to lower their ticket prices in order to ensure a “more vibrant stadium” instead of an empty-looking one.

Tickets currently are being sold at rates between £40 to £90 – £50 cheaper than what the MCC had originally set them at keeping India’s participation in mind. MCC members who had bought tickets before the price reduction have since been refunded the difference.

India had lost to New Zealand in the inaugural WTC final at Southampton’s Rose Bowl in 2021 before losing to their Trans-Tasman rivals two years later. As for the 2023-25 cycle, India were in pole position to qualify for a third consecutive final after defeating West Indies 1-0, holding South Africa to a 1-1 draw in South Africa and inflicting a 4-1 series loss on England at home.

Later in 2024, India would complete a 2-0 sweep against Bangladesh at home. However, a stunning 0-3 home whitewash at the hands of New Zealand left them needing a series win in Australia to qualify. Their fate was ultimately sealed with a 1-3 series loss Down Under. The Proteas, on the other hand, secured their passage into the final – their second in an ICC event in consecutive years – with a hat-trick of 2-0 sweeps, defeating Bangladesh away before finishing on top of the table with victories against Sri Lanka and Pakistan at home.
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Link: https://www.firstpost.com/firstcric...outh-africa-australia-explained-13870644.html
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Shastri predicts Australia's bowling attack for World Test Championship Final

The former India coach discussed Australia’s selection choices for the one-off Test with the Proteas and the potential to include an all pace attack during the contest.

India legend Ravi Shastri has provided his thoughts on the fast bowlers Australia should select for the ICC World Test Championship Final against South Africa at Lord's.

The reigning World Test Championship winners enter the one-off Test in London with a wealth of riches in their pace bowling department, with skipper Pat Cummins, left-armer Mitchell Starc and consistent duo Josh Hazlewood and Scott Boland likely vying for three fast bowling berths in Australia's XI.

The Aussies also have the option of including all-rounder Beau Webster in their XI should they wish to have an extra bowling option.

Shastri discussed Australia's selection dilemma with host Sanjana Ganesan on the most recent episode of The ICC Review and the former India coach believes Hazlewood should get the nod alongside Cummins, Starc and spinner Nathan Lyon should he prove his fitness ahead of the encounter.

Full Match Highlights: The key moments from all five days of the ICC World Test Championship Final 2023 as Australia beat India by 209 runs to secure their first WTC mace

“It will be a very tough choice, but if Hazelwood is fit, then he gets the nod ahead of Boland,“ Shastri told The ICC Review.

Hazlewood was ruled out of three out of the five Tests during the recent battle for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy with India, and subsequently for Australia’s tour of Sri Lanka and the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 earlier this year with calf issues.

However, the 34-year-old has since returned to competitive cricket in the Indian Premier League and has looked in decent touch for Royal Challengers Bengaluru with 12 wickets across his first eight matches.

While Shastri is a long-time admirer of Boland, the former India coach believes the conditions at Lord's may be more suited to Hazlewood's line and length.

“If Hazlewood is fit to do that, he will definitely get the nod for two reasons. One, the English conditions, two, Lord’s with the slope," he said.

“And the reason I say Lord’s slope is Hazlewood is most likened to Glenn McGrath.

“And you've got to just check Glenn McGrath's record at Lord’s, with the slope around and bowling from the Commentary Box end.

One of the all-time greats, McGrath took 26 wickets in three Test matches at Lord’s, with a best effort of 8/38 in the second Test of Australia’s Tour of England and Scotland in 1997.

“He (McGrath) could be lethal with the ball either seaming back or going away and from either end, to be honest and I think Hazlewood can do something similar with his height,” Shastri said, when comparing Hazlewood to former Australia seamer McGrath.

“The pitches aren't as quick as in Australia. So you need that extra bit of height and bounce, which he will get as opposed to Scott Boland, though I'm a big fan of Scott Boland."

Returning Scott Boland recalls epic WTC23 Final against India

Boland has an impeccable record when playing for Australia and, most notably, the 35-year-old featured in the World Test Championship Final against India in 2023 when he picked up five wickets across the two innings.

He produced a brilliant spell in the second innings with figures of 3/46, which included the key wickets of Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja.

Boland also featured in Australia’s home triumph against India in 2024/25 that ensured a second successive World Test Championship final appearance and Shastri suggested the Aussies may consider using an all pace attack against the Proteas.

“Ideally, you want to play all four (seamers) if you get half a chance and if there's a little more grass on the surface,” Shastri said.

ICC
 
BouncerGuy said:
Shastri predicts Australia's bowling attack for World Test Championship Final

The former India coach discussed Australia’s selection choices for the one-off Test with the Proteas and the potential to include an all pace attack during the contest.

India legend Ravi Shastri has provided his thoughts on the fast bowlers Australia should select for the ICC World Test Championship Final against South Africa at Lord's.

The reigning World Test Championship winners enter the one-off Test in London with a wealth of riches in their pace bowling department, with skipper Pat Cummins, left-armer Mitchell Starc and consistent duo Josh Hazlewood and Scott Boland likely vying for three fast bowling berths in Australia's XI.

The Aussies also have the option of including all-rounder Beau Webster in their XI should they wish to have an extra bowling option.

Shastri discussed Australia's selection dilemma with host Sanjana Ganesan on the most recent episode of The ICC Review and the former India coach believes Hazlewood should get the nod alongside Cummins, Starc and spinner Nathan Lyon should he prove his fitness ahead of the encounter.

Full Match Highlights: The key moments from all five days of the ICC World Test Championship Final 2023 as Australia beat India by 209 runs to secure their first WTC mace

“It will be a very tough choice, but if Hazelwood is fit, then he gets the nod ahead of Boland,“ Shastri told The ICC Review.

Hazlewood was ruled out of three out of the five Tests during the recent battle for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy with India, and subsequently for Australia’s tour of Sri Lanka and the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 earlier this year with calf issues.

However, the 34-year-old has since returned to competitive cricket in the Indian Premier League and has looked in decent touch for Royal Challengers Bengaluru with 12 wickets across his first eight matches.

While Shastri is a long-time admirer of Boland, the former India coach believes the conditions at Lord's may be more suited to Hazlewood's line and length.

“If Hazlewood is fit to do that, he will definitely get the nod for two reasons. One, the English conditions, two, Lord’s with the slope," he said.

“And the reason I say Lord’s slope is Hazlewood is most likened to Glenn McGrath.

“And you've got to just check Glenn McGrath's record at Lord’s, with the slope around and bowling from the Commentary Box end.

One of the all-time greats, McGrath took 26 wickets in three Test matches at Lord’s, with a best effort of 8/38 in the second Test of Australia’s Tour of England and Scotland in 1997.

“He (McGrath) could be lethal with the ball either seaming back or going away and from either end, to be honest and I think Hazlewood can do something similar with his height,” Shastri said, when comparing Hazlewood to former Australia seamer McGrath.

“The pitches aren't as quick as in Australia. So you need that extra bit of height and bounce, which he will get as opposed to Scott Boland, though I'm a big fan of Scott Boland."

Returning Scott Boland recalls epic WTC23 Final against India

Boland has an impeccable record when playing for Australia and, most notably, the 35-year-old featured in the World Test Championship Final against India in 2023 when he picked up five wickets across the two innings.

He produced a brilliant spell in the second innings with figures of 3/46, which included the key wickets of Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja.

Boland also featured in Australia’s home triumph against India in 2024/25 that ensured a second successive World Test Championship final appearance and Shastri suggested the Aussies may consider using an all pace attack against the Proteas.

“Ideally, you want to play all four (seamers) if you get half a chance and if there's a little more grass on the surface,” Shastri said.

ICC
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What's their to discuss?

1) Khawaja
2) Konstas
3) Labu
4) Steve Smith
5) Travis Head
6) Webster
7) Alex Carey
8) Pat Cummins
9) Mitchell Starc
10) Hazlewood
11) Lyon

^^ This will be the team.

Boland, Inglis, Marsh and Green/Sean Abbot

^^ These 4 will sit on the bench, Boland is fantastic but England conditons aren't the same as Aussies conditons, they'll probs want a more experienced bowler in hazlewood.

Only question mark is konstas vs Inglis, Aka who would they prefer. If they prefer Inglis then Head will open and Inglis will bat at 5.

However In my opinion, It's best for Head to Bat at 5. He is your most destructive player and no 5 is the easiest position to bat in test as a batter at 5 typically comes in when the ball is old, but not too old that the new ball will soon come into play.

Give young Konstas the responsibility to shine. Besides, he isn't facing Bumrah anymore, he'll have an easier time lapping it behind the keepers head against other bowlers even if those bowlers happen to be Rabada.
 
Aussies are looking good to win WTC for the 2nd time.

Can't see choker South Africa winning it. They couldn't win it when they needed 30 off 30 balls in 2024 World T20 final. Big chokers. :inti
 
If india had not stuffed up vs NZ in the home series or had managed to secure MCG test and come out of SCG with the right result (and with a significant dollop of luck, i must honestly add :) )
Any ways, SAF vs Aus on neutral soil - eng conditins is an enticing matchup.....
As an indian neutral - i am rooting for SAF, hope the saffers wins this, gets their first ICC tourney win under their belt.
As far as india is concerned, they will regroup and hopefully come back stronger in the next cycle - ind vs eng in June/july will make for compelling viewing as well.
thy heart pines for test cric....sick of the franchisee jazz...
 
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