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World Test Championship Final 2025 | Australia vs South Africa | Lords | June 11-15 | Match Discussion

Which side will win the WTC 2025 final?


  • Total voters
    16

The Bald Eagle

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ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2025 final between Australia and South Africa is set to be a high-stakes clash at Lord's Cricket Ground, London, starting June 11, 2025, at 10:30 AM local time (2:30 PM PST).

Match Context

Australia are the defending champions, led by Pat Cummins, aiming to retain their title.

South Africa, led by Temba Bavuma, are first-time finalists and eager to win their maiden ICC major title.

Both teams topped the WTC 2023-25 points table, with South Africa finishing first and Australia securing their spot with a strong Border-Gavaskar Trophy performance.

Team Form and Records

Australia has won 13 of their last 19 Tests.

South Africa is unbeaten in their last 7 Tests, winning all 7.

In their last 5 Tests against each other, both teams have won 2 matches each, with one draw, indicating a closely matched rivalry.

Key Players and Line-ups

Australia’s probable XI includes Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey (wk), Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon, and Beau Webster.

South Africa’s probable XI features Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton, Tony de Zorzi, Temba Bavuma, Tristan Stubbs, Kyle Verreynne (wk), Wiaan Mulder, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, and Lungi Ngidi.

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This time for Africa!
SA is getting mauled lol. They ain't winning. One of the most overrated test teams.

Their not bad, their solid, but NZ and England are better test teams then SA. Australia just need to watch out for the Rabada storm
 
As per @mominsaigol a true Pakistani must support Australia. Who do you think a true hindustani must support?

We are here to support test cricket. First and foremost. Both friendly nations. One is a BRICS colleague and the other is a QUAD colleague so we tight with both that way.

But still a South African win here would do a lot more for test cricket hence going with them even though this Aussie team is also a very likeable unit and at the end of its cycle I believe as a few of these guys won’t be playing for too long.
 
SA is getting mauled lol. They ain't winning. One of the most overrated test teams.

Their not bad, their solid, but NZ and England are better test teams then SA. Australia just need to watch out for the Rabada storm

Australia is clearly the better team.
 
Root needs to hit 14K runs this year with 40 test centuries and Steve Smith needs to hit 11K with 40 test centuries.

Will be very dissapointed if it doesnt happen. Root has a golden opportunity to surpass Ponting and Dravid coming india tour and Ashes tour
 
Lyon: World Test Championship Final 2025 is an important step to becoming one of the great Australian teams

Nathan Lyon believes the ICC World Test Championship Final 2025 represents a significant step in Australia's quest to become one of the all-time great Test teams.

The 37-year-old off-spinner is part of Andrew McDonald’s squad to take on South Africa at Lord’s in the finale of the ICC World Test Championship 2023-25 cycle.

Australia will be looking to defend the title they won in 2023 after beating India by 209 runs at The Oval, and Lyon, who took the match-winning wicket of Mohammed Siraj in that victory, wants to build on the progress that has been made since then.

“It is important that we look at this week as a celebration piece,” he said.

“We’ve done incredibly well over the last couple of years, at home and away, and that is something that as a team, we should be really proud of.

“In my eyes, we’re on a journey to becoming a great Australian team. We’re not there yet, I’m well aware of that, but that’s our goal too.

“This game is another step up that ladder.”

Australia finished second in the league table during the 2023-25 WTC cycle, having claimed 67.54 per cent of the points on offer to them.

They were also the only nation not to lose a series in that time, winning four of the six series they played.

Their percentage was only bettered by the table-topping Proteas’ 69.44 per cent.

Lyon, a New South Wales native, has taken 56 wickets against South Africa in 18 matches during his career and expects nothing less than a fierce contest with the side captained by Temba Bavuma.

“Yes, we’ve been here before, but South Africa qualified first during this World Test Championship,” he continued.

“Throughout these two years, they’ve done something really well to finish top, and so they deserve that home changing room leading into this game.

“It’s international cricket. We’re expecting an extremely hard challenge and there’s going to be a lot of problems out there, but we’re going to have to be good enough to solve those problems ASAP.”

Australia have plenty of firepower within their bowling ranks for this match, with five of those selected within the top 14 of the ICC Men’s Test Bowling rankings.

Lyon himself sits fifth on that list, with captain Pat Cummins in third, Josh Hazlewood in fourth, with Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland in 11th and 14th, respectively.

Cummins (73), Starc (72) and Lyon (66) also currently occupy positions two through four on the leading wicket-takers list for this edition of the WTC, with only India’s Jasprit Bumrah ahead of them with 77 wickets.

The presence of multiple experienced and skilled bowlers in the Australian camp is only improving the standards in training, revealed Lyon.

“As a bowling squad, we are very proud of where we are currently at,” he said.

“But we’re not leaving any stone unturned and we’re still trying to get better as a bowling group.

“I feel that spurs each and every one of us on to get better.”

Australia last played Test cricket in England during the 2023 Ashes series – the opening contest of the 2023-25 WTC cycle – but many from the squad have since taken the opportunity to return to play on the shores of the old rival.

Lyon played for Lancashire in 2024, while Marnus Labuschagne, Cameron Green and Beau Webster have represented Glamorgan, Gloucestershire and Warwickshire, respectively, this season.

Green’s stint in England has been particularly impressive, with the all-rounder plundering 467 runs in just five County Championship Division 2 matches at an average of 66.71.

He has also scored three hundreds, including match-winning knocks of 128 and 67 not out against Kent in mid-May.

And Lyon feels the 26-year-old will learn a lot from his stint in the West Country.

“It’s been amazing to have Greeny over here,” he added.

“I think he’s played four or five games for Gloucestershire and done really well. So, hopefully, that gives him the confidence to pick things up from where he left off.

“It’s important, especially for the younger players, like Greeny, to come over here and play county cricket.

“I feel like you get a lot of understanding of how the game is played over here in these conditions, how the Dukes ball moves around and how the overhead conditions play a role.”
 
If Test ends up being a draw, trophy would be shared.

But, I don't think draw will happen. We should have a winner. They have a reserve day also.
 
‘It would mean everything’: South Africa on WTC25 winning enormity

South African players aren’t putting a ceiling on what success in the World Test Championship Final could mean for them as a cricketing nation. Given their silverware drought, there is a lot at stake for the Ultimate Test combatants.
“I don’t think I could put it into words, to be honest.”

That was the initial response from strike quick Lungi Ngidi, when asked what success in the World Test Championship decider would mean. Along with teammates, Ngidi spoke to ICC Digital ahead of the Proteas clash with Australia at London’s prestigious Lord’s ground, starting on Wednesday.

The right-armer was, in fact, able to provide a thoughtful answer, upon closer reflection. And by the time Ngidi was done articulating just what it would mean, it starts to paint a picture of the magnitude this Ultimate Test is for South African cricket.

“To be able to bring this (title) back home would be a dream come true," Ngidi continued.

“We’ve come close over the last couple of years, at different tournaments. It would be awesome.

“This is the ultimate form of cricket. Just bringing that focus back to red ball cricket. It could change the landscape of cricket in South Africa.”

Logo of Temba Bavuma and Pat Cummins photoshoot chat before the Lord's clash | WTC Final 2025
Temba Bavuma and Pat Cummins photoshoot chat before the Lord's clash | WTC Final 2025

As the faster formats and white-ball cricket continue to capture the attention of cricket fans around the globe, South Africa’s players are urging their supporters to lock in, ahead of one of their most important ever red ball matches.

In Ngidi’s eyes, a win could go as far as inspire a generation in South Africa. And he’s not alone.

Batter Tristan Stubbs admitted it would be a huge ‘relief’ to bring home the mace, with the Proteas having not collected a men’s ICC prize since 1998 – 27 years and counting since they claimed the ICC Knockout Trophy (now known as the Champions Trophy).

“If we get over the line, it’ll be a lot of relief for a lot of people,” Stubbs told ICC Digital.

But beyond the ‘relief’ of going a step further than what some of their predecessors managed, what’s also at stake is the trajectory a potential victory sets South African cricket on in the future – particularly in the red ball format.

“(It would mean) everything,” Verreynne also told ICC Digital.

“We’ve seen what the rugby (victory) has done. All the adversity that cricket in South Africa has faced… it would be incredibly special.”

Opener Tony de Zorzi backed up those sentiments, having emerged as a top order contributor in the current World Test Championship cycle.

“It would inspire a nation,” de Zorzi said.

“I think it would show that our cricket in South Africa is really strong and that we have a lot of young guys coming through (and to) give them belief and hope that it is worth chasing their dreams and that they can also do something special for their country.

“I think it would also show that, as a nation, we can come together and achieve special things, which you’ve seen in many sporting codes.”

Source: ICC
 
It will happen in reality
Anything can happen in reality but its highly doubtful.

England is essentially AU's 2nd home, they've historically played the most no of games here.

They have better batters and bowlers as well. They just need to survive rabada's onslaught
 
Sa batting is good against little bit of seam/swing but if it is exaggerated, only two players are good markaram and temba bavuma as we saw in Pak vs Sa series. While lot depends on form of australian players, as far as we know only steve smith is good against exaggerated seam/swing. Both teams are good against little bit of seam/swing, and both have bowlers who can extract the most out of pitch, but australian bowling is ahead.
 

Bavuma announces Proteas XI for WTC Final 2025​

South Africa have announced a strong lineup for the much anticipated clash against Australia in the Ultimate Test.​


South Africa captain Temba Bavuma has announced the playing XI for the ICC World Test Championship Final against Australia starting Monday, June 11.

South Africa playing XI: Temba Bavuma (c), Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton, Wiaan Mulder, Tristan Stubbs, David Bedingham, Kyle Verrynne, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi
 

Bavuma announces Proteas XI for WTC Final 2025​

South Africa have announced a strong lineup for the much anticipated clash against Australia in the Ultimate Test.​


South Africa captain Temba Bavuma has announced the playing XI for the ICC World Test Championship Final against Australia starting Monday, June 11.

South Africa playing XI: Temba Bavuma (c), Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton, Wiaan Mulder, Tristan Stubbs, David Bedingham, Kyle Verrynne, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi
Yeah, SA is getting stomped lol
 

Bavuma announces Proteas XI for WTC Final 2025​

South Africa have announced a strong lineup for the much anticipated clash against Australia in the Ultimate Test.​


South Africa captain Temba Bavuma has announced the playing XI for the ICC World Test Championship Final against Australia starting Monday, June 11.

South Africa playing XI: Temba Bavuma (c), Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton, Wiaan Mulder, Tristan Stubbs, David Bedingham, Kyle Verrynne, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi
Early predictions
Bedingham and Rickelton are gonna score big in this match.
 
Australia reveal playing XI for World Test Championship Final

A new opening partner for veteran Usman Khawaja, while IPL winner Josh Hazlewood wins the race over Scott Boland.
By Jonathan Healy, at Lord's

Australia captain Pat Cummins has revealed his side's playing XI for the ICC World Test Championship at Lord's.

Cummins spoke to the media in London on Tuesday and announced the XI the reigning World Test Championship winners will use is exactly the one as predicted by Australian great Ricky Ponting on The ICC Review last month.

Logo of Ricky Ponting picks his Australia XI for the World Test Championship Final
Ricky Ponting picks his Australia XI for the World Test Championship Final

The former Australia captain names the squad he believes should take on South Africa in the WTC Final.

Former No.1 ranked Test batter Marnus Labuschagne will push up the order to open alongside Usman Khawaja, while Josh Hazlewood won the race against Scott Boland to partner left-armer Mitchell Starc and Cummins in the pace attack.

All-rounder Cameron Green will play his first Test since back surgery, while Beau Webster retains his spot in the XI and will provide the bowlers some support with his medium pace and spin options.

Australia XI: 1. Usman Khawaja, 2. Marnus Labuschagne, 3. Cameron Green, 4. Steve Smith, 5. Travis Head, 6. Beau Webster, 7. Alex Carey (wk), 8. Pat Cummins (c), 9. Mitchell Starc, 10. Nathan Lyon, 11. Josh Hazlewood.

Source: ICC
 
South Africa will claim their first ICC World title in 5 days, I have no doubts. Let's goo..
 
Australia reveal playing XI for World Test Championship Final

A new opening partner for veteran Usman Khawaja, while IPL winner Josh Hazlewood wins the race over Scott Boland.
By Jonathan Healy, at Lord's

Australia captain Pat Cummins has revealed his side's playing XI for the ICC World Test Championship at Lord's.

Cummins spoke to the media in London on Tuesday and announced the XI the reigning World Test Championship winners will use is exactly the one as predicted by Australian great Ricky Ponting on The ICC Review last month.

Logo of Ricky Ponting picks his Australia XI for the World Test Championship Final
Ricky Ponting picks his Australia XI for the World Test Championship Final

The former Australia captain names the squad he believes should take on South Africa in the WTC Final.

Former No.1 ranked Test batter Marnus Labuschagne will push up the order to open alongside Usman Khawaja, while Josh Hazlewood won the race against Scott Boland to partner left-armer Mitchell Starc and Cummins in the pace attack.

All-rounder Cameron Green will play his first Test since back surgery, while Beau Webster retains his spot in the XI and will provide the bowlers some support with his medium pace and spin options.

Australia XI: 1. Usman Khawaja, 2. Marnus Labuschagne, 3. Cameron Green, 4. Steve Smith, 5. Travis Head, 6. Beau Webster, 7. Alex Carey (wk), 8. Pat Cummins (c), 9. Mitchell Starc, 10. Nathan Lyon, 11. Josh Hazlewood.

Source: ICC
Stupid decison to have labu open.
 
It's hard to choke in a test. :D
Says the guy who believes Bumrah who avg 45 against NZ, cant take 10 wicket hauls for the life of him despite being accompanied by a non existent indian attack making it extremely easy to be singled out as a 10 wicket haul taker + has the stamina of a toothpick + got owned by a 19 year old tulla baz rookie and tom latham the test cricketer

Is apparently superior to Mcgrath and Marshall because he has a 19.4 Avg in an era where besides Steve smith and Joe root, your best test batters are brook, Travis, Williamson and Bavuma 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣.

I dont take such views seriously.
 
Says the guy who believes Bumrah who avg 45 against NZ, cant take 10 wicket hauls for the life of him despite being accompanied by a non existent indian attack making it extremely easy to be singled out as a 10 wicket haul taker + has the stamina of a toothpick + got owned by a 19 year old tulla baz rookie and tom latham the test cricketer

Is apparently superior to Mcgrath and Marshall because he has a 19.4 Avg in an era where besides Steve smith and Joe root, your best test batters are brook, Travis, Williamson and Bavuma 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣.

I dont take such views seriously.

Exactly.

Anyone who says Bumrah is superior to McGrath is not worth discussing with.

On top of all these, he has a suspicious bowling action. His records should have an asterisk mark until he gets tested and cleared. :inti
 
His one job should be to blunt Rabada as much as possible. If he can achieve that, mission accomplished. Don't expect much else from him lol.
He is not a bad test batsmen for Aussie soil, he is out of form in recent times.

Overseas he's always been trash, so its funny that theyve given him the most difficult opening position and what's Cameron Green doing at no 3 🤣🤣
 
Exactly.

Anyone who says Bumrah is superior to McGrath is not worth discussing with.

On top of all these, he has a suspicious bowling action. His records should have an asterisk mark until he gets tested and cleared. :inti
Whether he's a chucker or not isn’t really relevant as Mcgrath would avg 15-17 in this era.

Test batting is a joke in this era. Steve smith is a goat yes and Joe root is close to surpassing ponting and Dravid in Test and will probably catch up to sachin assuming ashes series goes well

But besides these 2, their is a massive massive gulf between these 2 and every other test batsmen.

Everyone's hero Jaiswal can't even score against England A, Travis Head and Brooks aren't worth discussing. Their bang avg test batters.

Everyone's overglorified hero bavuma avg 37 in test and is a tragedy.

Williamson is a HTB and is god awful in 4 countries.

Despite this + bumrah bowling in a curated pitch bowling friendly era, he still cant figure out New Zealand, got embrassed by a 19 year old who cant even represent aus in wtc and cant take a 10 wicket haul due to garbage stamina.

Bumrah is a solid bowler but no 1 of all time beyond hilarious.

Mcgrath had to bowl on flatter pitches to the likes of sachin, Dravid, Lara, Chanderpaul, Sangakara and he dominated all of them. Mcgrath owned these guys to the point that to this day people doubt sachin's god status only thanks to Mcgrath
 
Says the guy who believes Bumrah who avg 45 against NZ, cant take 10 wicket hauls for the life of him despite being accompanied by a non existent indian attack making it extremely easy to be singled out as a 10 wicket haul taker + has the stamina of a toothpick + got owned by a 19 year old tulla baz rookie and tom latham the test cricketer

Is apparently superior to Mcgrath and Marshall because he has a 19.4 Avg in an era where besides Steve smith and Joe root, your best test batters are brook, Travis, Williamson and Bavuma 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣.

I dont take such views seriously.

How did you go off on a tangent of completely unrelated nonsense ?

We're talking about the WTC final. Don't make a post here if you can't stick to the topic.

(And stop being so bitter about Bumrah; GOAT or top 3 or whatever .. the margins are very fine at the top.)
 
How did you go off on a tangent of completely unrelated nonsense ?

We're talking about the WTC final. Don't make a post here if you can't stick to the topic.

(And stop being so bitter about Bumrah; GOAT or top 3 or whatever .. the margins are very fine at the top.)
Not being bitter about bumrah, I actually like him. But top 3 even is hilarious. I'm making fun of your cricketing knowledge and blantatn bias.

You want me to come back to topic? Debating what exactly?

You having No doubts that Sa will win? What kind of Argument is that 🤣🤣
 
How did you go off on a tangent of completely unrelated nonsense ?

We're talking about the WTC final. Don't make a post here if you can't stick to the topic.

(And stop being so bitter about Bumrah; GOAT or top 3 or whatever .. the margins are very fine at the top.)
Tell me your top 5 greatest fast bowlers across format or separately (ODIs and Tests).
 
This is so unfair man. We should be playing in it but umpires have totally screwed us up.

😢
No one screwed you. No one asked india to get demolished 3-0 by nz.

No one asked them to get amuled by Australia. It came to the point that you guys created non sense conspiracy threads 🤣
 
I still dont get why Sam Konstas couldn't get to open? Australia is acting very cowardly in recent times.

They even made cooper connely open ahead of Jake Fraser in ct
 
Anything can happen in reality but its highly doubtful.

England is essentially AU's 2nd home, they've historically played the most no of games here.

They have better batters and bowlers as well. They just need to survive rabada's onslaught
I’d Rabada burger Jansen Nortje Bosch
All played Aus is toast

But they are lucky it’s crappy ngidi and Paterson playing
 
No one screwed you. No one asked india to get demolished 3-0 by nz.

No one asked them to get amuled by Australia. It came to the point that you guys created non sense conspiracy threads 🤣
That loss to nz is all on fat Rohit and cool kohli
They are the reason

They should be ashamed of themselves

Can never forgive them for it

Don’t care what icc titles they won after

Humiliating loss.
 
No one screwed you. No one asked india to get demolished 3-0 by nz.

No one asked them to get amuled by Australia. It came to the point that you guys created non sense conspiracy threads 🤣
Only in India a captain and the other celeb kohli fraud wouldn’t get sacked after a disastrous performance.

Sycophants.
 
I’d Rabada burger Jansen Nortje Bosch
All played Aus is toast

But they are lucky it’s crappy ngidi and Paterson playing
Exactly, when i saw the team i said sa is toast. Its unfortunate people think in saying so just cause its Australia 🤦🏻🤦🏻
 
What a player he was...best stroke maker in off side I have ever seen.
I adored him even more than Ricky Ponting. I say that having considered Punter the third best batsman I've ever seen after Sachin and Lara.

Better batsman - Ricky Ponting

Whom I enjoyed watching more - Damien Martyn.​
 
Bold prediction from my favorite batsman of the all conquering Aussie team.


Smith usually comes good in special events. Only time he failed was ct 2025 and wc 2023 final.

But he did his part in ct 2023, Maxwell kinda messed it up and in 2023 the decision was wrong although wouldnt have made a difference.

In tests he's always come through though. He came good last WTC, I wouldn't be surprised if he wins aus another one. This is very likely his final WTC.

I dont think smith is making it past ashes 2025
 
Whole world is supporting South Africa.

This time for Africa..Django eh eh..Djanho eh eh...waka waka hey hey

If umpires dont save Australia again, I dont see them winning this.

:kp
 
WTC final is only ICC events final - no hype, no vibe, no excitement, no flashy promos. Dead silence .

Is it bcz India ain't playin or other reasons?

:kp
 
South Africa have won the toss and have opted to field

Teams:

South Africa
(Playing XI): Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, Temba Bavuma(c), David Bedingham, Kyle Verreynne(w), Wiaan Mulder, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi

Australia (Playing XI): Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Travis Head, Cameron Green, Beau Webster, Alex Carey(w), Pat Cummins(c), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood
 
Rabada is already sky high and thats for non-cricketing reasons, hopefully he can take some wickets and take him higher too :rabada
 
Super century for Papa head and Steve smith coming right up after killer half centuries from labu and Khawaja
 
Lol Marco jansen opening the bowling. They just need to negotiate Rabada and then its smooth sailing from here
 
2 beautiful maidens played. I can already feel the SA frustration setting in as AU builds a platform for attack.
 
Interesting graphic. You've got to be a metre shorter at Lord's to hit the top of the stumps compared to Highveld venues like Centurion and an Aussie venue like Perth.

Guessing you need to be another metre shorter at NSK
 
Interesting graphic. You've got to be a metre shorter at Lord's to hit the top of the stumps compared to Highveld venues like Centurion and an Aussie venue like Perth.

Guessing you need to be another metre shorter at NSK
Don't worry as Tall and Muscular Head will clear anything and everything.
 
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Atrocious decision bowling first in a final against Aussies. Just doesn't make any sense at all.

SA pacers can exploit pace and bounce in the surface, but I don't think they can make use of overcast London conditions
 
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