After two years of grueling red-ball battles across continents, the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) Final is set to unfold at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground in London from June 11 to June 15, 2025. In what promises to be a historic contest, defending champions Australia will take on South Africa, a side eager to end their near three-decade-long ICC title drought.
Match Details
-
Fixture: Australia vs South Africa, WTC Final 2023-25
-
Venue: Lord’s Cricket Ground, London
-
Date & Time: June 11–15, 2025 | 3:30 PM (IST)
-
Broadcast: Star Sports Network, JioCinema & Disney+ Hotstar (app & website)
Teams at a Glance
Australia, led by Pat Cummins, enter the final as the more experienced and in-form side. The Baggy Greens have had a dominant cycle, beating teams like India, Pakistan and New Zealand while only suffering a few hiccups. Their historic 3-1 win over India at home and series victories over Pakistan, Sri Lanka and West Indies underline their consistency in the format.
South Africa, under Temba Bavuma, have had a much tougher journey to the final. Despite early losses and the controversial decision to send a second-string squad to New Zealand, the Proteas bounced back impressively. Series wins over West Indies, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Pakistan helped them book a maiden WTC final appearance.
Key Players to Watch
-
Usman Khawaja (AUS) – The leading run-scorer for Australia with 1422 runs at 41.82, Khawaja will be crucial at the top.
-
Pat Cummins (AUS) – With 73 wickets, Cummins has led from the front with both ball and tactics.
-
David Bedingham (SA) – South Africa’s top scorer in the cycle, Bedingham’s stability in the middle order will be key.
-
Kagiso Rabada (SA) – With 47 wickets in just 10 Tests at 19.97, Rabada has been lethal and is the Proteas’ bowling spearhead.
Probable Playing XIs
Australia:
Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Cameron Green, Steven Smith, Travis Head, Alex Carey (WK), Beau Webster, Pat Cummins (C), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood
South Africa:
Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton, Wiaan Mulder/Tony de Zorzi, Temba Bavuma (C), Tristan Stubbs, David Bedingham, Kyle Verreynne (WK), Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi
The Proteas may have a decision to make at No. 3, between the batting depth of Wiaan Mulder or the solidity of Tony de Zorzi. Meanwhile, Australia welcome back Cameron Green, who returns after surgery and will strengthen the top order.
Head-to-Head in Tests
-
Total Matches: 101
-
Australia Wins: 54
-
South Africa Wins: 26
-
Draws: 21
-
Most Recent Meeting: January 2023
Historically, Australia have had the upper hand, but South Africa have pulled off famous wins in England before — including a series win in 2012 at Lord’s.
Pitch & Conditions
Lord’s has hosted 147 Tests with teams batting first winning 53 times. The pitch usually aids seam movement early on, especially under overcast conditions, making toss an important factor. The average first-innings score is 310, and with both sides boasting world-class pace attacks, a bowler-dominated contest is likely.
Probable Scenarios
-
If Australia bat first and post over 350, their bowlers could run through South Africa’s slightly fragile batting.
-
If South Africa bowl first and make early inroads, they have the potential to keep Australia under 250, but their own batting will need to fire under pressure.
-
Rain interruptions may play a role over the five days, so time management and follow-on tactics could be decisive.
Prediction
Australia have the edge in terms of depth, experience and recent form. Their batting lineup is more settled, and their fast-bowling trio of Cummins, Starc and Hazlewood knows English conditions well. However, South Africa’s hunger for an ICC trophy and the x-factor of Rabada and Jansen can’t be underestimated.
Prediction: Australia to win a hard-fought contest, but if South Africa’s top order clicks and Rabada finds rhythm early, an upset is possible.