Australia and South Africa Battle for Test Supremacy
LONDON: Defending champions Australia will meet table-toppers South Africa in a blockbuster finale of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2023–25 cycle, set to commence at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground on Wednesday.
After 68 gripping Test matches spread across 27 bilateral series involving nine nations, the battle for red-ball supremacy has boiled down to two cricketing heavyweights who followed divergent paths to reach the summit clash.
Path to the Final
South Africa, in pursuit of their first major ICC trophy since clinching the Knockout title in 1998, played 12 Tests in this cycle, emerging victorious in eight to top the standings with an impressive win percentage of 69.44.
Despite their record, their route to the final has faced criticism, notably from former England skipper Michael Vaughan, who questioned the quality of their opposition — noting the Proteas avoided both England and Australia during their campaign.
Pace has been the cornerstone of South Africa’s success, with spearhead Kagiso Rabada returning from a brief suspension following a failed drug test. Rabada has claimed 47 wickets in 10 matches, while spinner Keshav Maharaj has provided crucial breakthroughs on turning tracks.
In the batting department, middle-order batter David Bedingham has stood out with 645 runs in 12 outings. Captain Temba Bavuma and opener Aiden Markram have also chipped in consistently, scoring 609 and 572 runs respectively.
Australia, meanwhile, secured their spot in the final after a comprehensive win over Sri Lanka in Galle earlier this year. The reigning champions featured in 19 matches, winning 13, with series wins over Pakistan, India, and England bolstering their campaign.
Much like their opponents, the Aussies will be pinning their hopes on a fiery pace unit led by skipper Pat Cummins and left-armer Mitchell Starc, who have bagged 73 and 72 wickets respectively during this cycle. Veterans Usman Khawaja, Steve Smith, and Travis Head have formed the backbone of the Australian batting lineup.
Weather & Reserve Day Outlook
The UK Met Office forecasts largely favorable conditions for the final. Day one is expected to proceed without weather interruptions, with only a four percent chance of rain. However, day two could see rain delays in the afternoon, with a 50 percent chance of showers.
The third day may bring overcast skies and light rain spells, but the final two days look mostly clear. To mitigate any significant weather-related disruptions, the ICC has designated Monday, June 16, as a reserve day.
Head-to-Head Record
The two sides have clashed in 101 Test matches, with Australia winning 54, South Africa 26, and 21 encounters ending in a draw. Their most recent Test series was in late 2022 when Australia hosted South Africa and clinched the three-match series 2-0, with the final Test ending in a stalemate.
Their only previous Test meeting at Lord’s dates back to 1912, during the Triangular Tournament with England. Australia emerged victorious in that contest by 10 wickets.
Recent Form
Both teams come into the final riding high on momentum:
South Africa: W, W, W, W, W
Australia: W, W, W, W, D
Playing XI
Australia: Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Cameron Green, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Beau Webster, Alex Carey (wk), Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood.
South Africa: Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton, Wiaan Mulder, Temba Bavuma (c), Tristan Stubbs, David Bedingham, Kyle Verreynne (wk), Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi.
