South Africa Aim to Stun Australia in WTC Final at Lord’s

Josh Hazlewood of Australia bowls during an Australia nets session at Beckenham Cricket Club (Photo by Paul Harding/Getty Images)

It is the mega final of the 2023–2025 World Test Championship (WTC), and it will feature defending champions Australia and South Africa at the iconic Lord’s cricket ground from June 11 to 15. Australia are the No. 1–ranked ICC Test team in the world and will start as the hot favorite in the ultimate battle for Test supremacy at the Mecca of cricket. South Africa are ranked No. 3 and would need to counterattack and surprise Australia if they are to have any chance against the Pat Cummins-led unit.

While Australia defeated India by 209 runs in the final of the 2021–2023 WTC at The Oval, it will be the first appearance in the summit clash for South Africa, who finished third in the previous cycle.

RG previews the 2023–2025 WTC Final.

Road to the Final

Australia

Australia have won 13 of their 19 Tests in the 2023–2025 WTC cycle and start as overwhelming favorites in the final. Despite some hiccups, they have dominated the format in the last couple of years and have not lost any of the six Test series in this timeframe. They started with a 2–2 draw in England in the Ashes before routing Pakistan 3–0 at home. A shock defeat against the West Indies at their bastion Gabba was a wake-up call for the Pat Cummins-led unit, and since then, they have raised their game by a notch or two and comprehensively beaten all their opponents, including a 2–0 sweep in New Zealand, a massive 3–1 victory against India at home, and a significant 2–0 win in Sri Lanka.

South Africa

South Africa started their campaign with a 1–1 draw at home against India before going down to New Zealand (0–2) away. They then bounced back in fine style, winning their next four series, which included away wins against the West Indies and Bangladesh and victories against Sri Lanka and Pakistan at home. Overall, South Africa have won 8 of their 12 Tests in this WTC cycle, and while some critics might question the quality of their opposition (they haven’t faced Australia or England in this WTC cycle), the structure and scheduling of the fixtures—and the debate over the points system of the championship—fall within the domain of the ICC.

Head-to-Head & Record at Lord’s

Australia and South Africa have clashed in 10 Tests since 2015, with the latter winning five of these encounters. Australia have won four, while one Test ended in a draw. South Africa won the series 2–1 Down Under in 2016 and trounced Australia 3–1 at home in 2018. Australia emerged victorious in the last series at home in 2022, clinching a 2–0 win.

Both teams have a strong record at Lord’s. South Africa have won 3 of the 5 Tests they’ve played at the venue since Jan. 1, 2000, while Australia have triumphed in 5 of their 8 matches at the home of cricket in this period.

Probable Playing XIs

Australia:

1. Usman Khawaja
2. Marnus Labuschagne
3. Cameron Green
4. Steven Smith
5. Travis Head
6. Beau Webster
7. Alex Carey
8. Pat Cummins
9. Mitchell Starc
10. Nathan Lyon
11. Josh Hazlewood

South Africa

1. Ryan Rickelton
2. Aiden Markram
3. Temba Bavuma
4. David Bedingham
5. Tristan Stubbs
6. Kyle Verreynne
7. Wiaan Mulder
8. Marco Jansen
9. Kagiso Rabada
10. Lungi Ngidi
11. Keshav Maharaj

Players to Watch Out For

Steven Smith (Australia)

Steven Smith has been in menacing form, registering five hundreds in his last four Tests, and will be the pivot in the top order for Australia. He is widely rated as one of the greatest Test batters of all time and has scored 10,271 runs in 116 Tests at an average of 56.7 with 36 centuries. Smith has a fantastic record at Lord’s with two hundreds in five encounters and averages 58.3 at the venue.

Josh Hazlewood (Australia)

Josh Hazlewood is at the peak of his bowling prowess and will be the most dangerous of the Australian pace trio, which also includes Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc. Hazlewood has taken 57 wickets in just 13 Tests in the 2023–2025 WTC cycle at an average of 19.68 and strike rate of 37.8—better than Cummins and Starc on both counts. He has taken 34 wickets in 8 Tests against South Africa at an average of 26.5. Given his accuracy in line and length, Hazlewood will be a major threat with the seaming new ball at Lord’s.

Kagiso Rabada (South Africa)

Kagiso Rabada will be the main weapon for South Africa and is the leading wicket-taker for the Proteas in the 2023–2025 WTC cycle with 47 dismissals in just 10 Tests at an average of 19.9 and strike rate of 37.8. Rabada is a modern great and has a tally of 327 wickets in 70 Tests at an average of 22 and strike rate of 39.4—the best ever among all bowlers with a minimum of 150 wickets in Test history. That showcases his tremendous propensity to pick wickets. Rabada has a splendid record against Australia with 49 wickets in 10 Tests at an average of 23.08 and strike rate of 39.9.

Keshav Maharaj (South Africa)

Keshav Maharaj has taken 40 wickets in just 8 Tests in this WTC cycle at an average of 20.57 and strike rate of 44.3. He produced two five-wicket hauls in this timeframe—one against Bangladesh at Chattogram and the other against Sri Lanka at Port Elizabeth. Maharaj has been extremely consistent and has taken at least two wickets in each of the 13 innings in this period.

Matchups

Usman Khawaja vs. Kagiso Rabada

• Innings: 14
• Balls: 319
• Runs: 154
• Average: 30.8
• Dismissals: 5

Steven Smith vs. Keshav Maharaj

• Innings: 12
• Balls: 290
• Runs: 132
• Average: 33
• Dismissals: 4

Temba Bavuma vs. Josh Hazlewood

• Innings: 7
• Balls: 118
• Runs: 46
• Average: 23
• Dismissals: 2

Aiden Markram vs. Pat Cummins

• Innings: 6
• Balls: 123
• Runs: 90
• Average: 22.5
• Dismissals: 4