WTC Final Showdown: Australia vs. South Africa at Lord’s

The highly anticipated ICC World Test Championship final is scheduled to occur between Australia and South Africa from June 11-15 at Lord’s Cricket Ground.

South Africa’s batting coach, Ashwell Prince, conveyed his strong desire to overcome Australia and expressed optimism for his squad’s optimal performance in the ICC Test Championship final, commencing at Lord’s on June 11.

As South Africa gears up to clash with Australia in the World Test Championship (WTC) final at Lord’s in the coming days, considerable emphasis is being placed on the selection of the Dukes ball—the standard ball utilized in England. This ball presents notable differences compared to the Kookaburra ball, which is commonly employed by South Africa and Australia.

In an interview, Prince addressed the challenges, affirming his confidence.

Prince’s Remarks on the Competition

“The conditions will be uniform for both sides, eliminating any specific advantage. Both teams possess formidable bowlers capable of maximizing their skills with the Dukes ball. Our lineup includes some of the finest bowlers globally, capable of inflicting significant damage,” he commented.

South Africa’s Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen, along with Australia’s Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, and Nathan Lyon, are positioned among the top 10 Test bowlers, evidencing the strength present in both teams.

Keshav Maharaj and Mitchell Starc, also within the top 20, underscore the dominance of these bowling attacks, which largely explains South Africa’s and Australia’s progression to this final stage.

Prince also shared his perspective on the WTC final format: “A final is the optimal method, given the unequal frequency with which teams face each other. We are at ease with this structure.”

South Africa participated in only 12 Tests during the current cycle, contrasting with England’s 22 and Australia and India’s 19 each.

“Other boards had opportunities to arrange series against us but decided against it,” Prince stated, dismissing critiques.

Prince drew attention to a strategic decision during a match—positioning Wiaan Mulder to bat at number three, preparing him for potential early responsibilities at Lord’s.

“The optimal preparation involves keeping all options available. The surface conditions at Lord’s remain uncertain; however, if he is required to fulfill that role, we aim to ensure he has adequate preparation,” he concluded.

The ICC World Test Championship final is slated for June 11 at Lord’s Cricket Ground in London, featuring South Africa and the defending champions, Australia.

South Africa currently tops the WTC 2023-25 standings, with eight victories out of 12 Tests.

Following a 1-1 draw in a home series against India and a 2-0 defeat in New Zealand, they recovered with series wins against the West Indies (1-0), Bangladesh (2-0), Sri Lanka (2-0), and Pakistan (2-0).

Australia is positioned second in the standings, with 13 wins and four losses from 19 Tests.

Their journey encompassed a 2-0 victory against Sri Lanka, a 3-1 triumph over India, a 2-0 series win against New Zealand, and a 1-1 draw with the West Indies. They also achieved a 3-0 whitewash against Pakistan, while the Ashes series against England concluded in a 2-2 draw.

  • South Africa Squad for WTC Final: Temba Bavuma (captain), Tony de Zorzi, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Marco Jansen, Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi, Corbin Bosch, Kyle Verreynne, David Bedingham, Tristan Stubbs, Ryan Rickelton, Senuran Muthusamy, Dane Paterson.