WTC Final Set for Lord’s Showdown Between Australia and South Africa

The ICC World Test Championship final is scheduled to be held at Lord’s Cricket Ground in London from June 11-15, featuring Australia and South Africa.

Steve Smith Aims for Top Performance in WTC Final

Australian batsman Steve Smith has voiced his strong desire to put up an exceptional showing against South Africa in the ICC World Test Championship final. He also conveyed his hopes for his team’s success.

Smith spent a period in New York, taking time away from competitive cricket. The 36-year-old opted to step back from batting for a three-month duration, prioritizing his physical conditioning during this phase.

In discussions with the media following a training session, Smith mentioned his usual practice of shadow batting at home. However, he highlighted the advantages of the break, noting that it has enhanced his physical strength.

Smith’s Remarks on His Break

“I’d normally have a bat lying around the house somewhere and just pick it up and do a bit of shadow batting and stuff,” Smith stated.

“But I made a conscious decision to try and just let it go for a while. It was good. I probably haven’t been as strong as I am now since 2014, and I feel like improved mobility in my hips could help me in the slips too.”

With Australia’s preparations for the West Indies series now underway at Lord’s, Smith is optimistic. The English conditions have historically favored his batting style, as reflected in his Test batting average of 55.00 in England.

Notably, he achieved a century in the 2023 World Test Championship final against India and holds an impressive average of 58.33 at Lord’s.

Smith’s Affinity for Lord’s

Smith expressed his admiration for Lord’s, emphasizing its deep-rooted history and the distinctive playing conditions, particularly the slope that poses a challenge to batsmen.

“I think it’s probably, outside of Sydney, my favourite ground to play at. The history, the surface itself… It always takes a few balls just to get used to that slope. One end you feel like you’re standing really tall, and the other end you feel like you’re falling over a little bit. But the ball races away, both up the hill and down the hill,” Smith explained.

Smith’s previous experiences, including a notable period without a century following his Lord’s century in 2023, have been closely followed. After a tough stretch of 23 innings without a hundred, Smith regained his form, scoring four centuries in eight innings against India and Sri Lanka.

“I’m definitely not looking that far ahead. I’m kind of taking it day by day. As long as I’m enjoying it, batting well, and feeling like I’m contributing to the team, I’m happy,” he concluded.

WTC Standings Overview

South Africa currently tops the WTC 2023-25 standings, having secured eight victories out of twelve Test matches.

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

Meanwhile, Australia occupies the second position, having recorded 13 wins and four losses in 19 Tests.

Their campaign included 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.

Australia’s Squad for WTC Final

The Australian squad for the WTC final consists of: Pat Cummins (captain), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Matthew Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Beau Webster.