The cricketing world holds its breath as Australia and South Africa prepare to lock horns in the 2025 ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final, commencing tomorrow, June 11th, at the historic Lord’s. On paper, the defending champions, Australia, certainly boast a superior blend of experience and star power, making them the undeniable favourites. The Proteas, while perhaps lacking some of the big-name batting firepower, arrive with a resilient squad of consistent performers.
The ‘Mecca of Cricket’ traditionally offers a balanced contest. While the Lord’s pitch is expected to assist the fast bowlers initially, it typically flattens out, allowing batsmen to compile significant scores as the innings progresses. According to the ever-insightful Steve Smith, spin could become a vital weapon as the match wears on, particularly on a potentially dry surface.
Delving into the numbers, the average first-innings total at Lord’s hovers around 310. Australia’s impressive average first-innings score at this iconic venue is 301, significantly ahead of South Africa’s 266. Historically, teams batting first have had a slight edge, winning 53 out of 147 Tests here, compared to 43 victories for teams bowling first.
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The head-to-head Test record firmly favours Australia. Out of 101 encounters, the Aussies have triumphed in 54, while South Africa has managed 26 wins, with 21 draws. Their last red-ball clash was in 2022-23, where Australia dominated a three-match home series 2-0. Interestingly, these two cricketing giants have only met once before at Lord’s in Test whites – way back in 1912, a game Australia won by 10 wickets. That series also featured an innings victory for Australia in Manchester and a draw in Nottingham, marking their only neutral Test encounters outside this upcoming final.
Now, let’s dive into some of the anticipated player battles that could define this monumental clash.
#1 Kagiso Rabada vs Usman Khawaja
South Africa’s premier fast bowler and leading wicket-taker, squares off against Usman Khawaja, Australia’s highest run-scorer in this WTC cycle. This isn’t their first rodeo; they’ve locked horns in 14 Test innings before. Rabada has dismissed Khawaja five times, but the elegant southpaw has managed to score 154 runs against him at a respectable average of 30.80. The opening hour of Australia’s innings promises to be a gripping encounter between these two titans.
#2 Temba Bavuma vs Nathan Lyon
Despite missing a significant chunk of South Africa’s early WTC campaign, Temba Bavuma has been in sublime form, accumulating 609 runs at an impressive average of 60.90. However, the in-form Lyon, who boasts a cycle-best 66 wickets for a spinner at an average of 24, has had Bavuma’s number four times across 12 Test innings. This contest will be a true test of nerve and skill.
#3 Aiden Markram vs Mitchell Starc
South Africa’s seasoned opener Aiden Markram against Australia’s talismanic left-arm quick, Mitchell Starc. Starc’s ability to wreak havoc with the fresh cherry is well-known, but Markram has shown resilience against left-arm pacers, averaging a solid 41 in Tests. While Starc has dismissed Markram once in six Test innings, the Proteas opener has managed to score 82 runs in that direct confrontation.
#4 Marco Jansen vs Steve Smith
Marco Jansen has been a revelation in this WTC cycle, bagging 29 wickets at an excellent average of 20.82. Steve Smith, meanwhile, enters the final brimming with confidence after a stellar tour of Sri Lanka, where he notched up two centuries and surpassed the monumental 10,000 Test runs mark. Interestingly, Smith maintains a strong average of 49.14 against left-arm pacers in Tests, setting up a captivating face-off.
