The stage is set at the iconic Lord's Cricket Ground in London as South Africa and Australia clash in the ICC World Test Championship 2023-25 final, commencing June 11, 2025. This eagerly anticipated showdown pits the top two teams of the championship cycle against each other in a battle for cricketing supremacy on one of the sport's most revered pitches.
South Africa, led by captain Temba Bavuma, won the toss and elected to bowl first under overcast conditions that promised assistance for their formidable pace attack. Australia, the defending champions and top-ranked Test side, responded with a strong playing XI that includes experienced campaigners and promising talents alike.
Both teams unveiled their squads a day prior to the final. South Africa’s lineup features Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton, Wiaan Mulder, Bavuma himself, Tristan Stubbs, David Bedingham, Kyle Verreynne (wicketkeeper), and a bowling unit comprising Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, and Lungi Ngidi. Australia countered with Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne—who opened the batting for the first time in his Test career—Cameron Green, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Beau Webster, Alex Carey (wicketkeeper), captain Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, and Josh Hazlewood.
Historically, Australia and South Africa have met in 101 Test matches, with Australia leading the head-to-head tally 54-26, alongside 21 draws. At Lord's, Australia boasts 18 wins from 40 matches, whereas South Africa has six wins from 18 appearances. The venue itself, established in 1814 by Thomas Lord and often called the "Mecca of Cricket," holds a capacity of 30,000 and has hosted numerous historic matches, including the first Test between England and Australia in 1884.
The pitch at Lord's traditionally favors pace bowlers, with statistics since 2022 showing 172 wickets taken by pacers compared to just 23 by spinners. Pacers here average 26.33, while spinners average 39.78. However, the dry spring conditions leading up to the match suggest spinners like South Africa's Keshav Maharaj and Australia’s Nathan Lyon might find some assistance as the game progresses. The average first-innings score at Lord's in recent matches has been 239, rising to 314 in the second innings, indicating that batting becomes easier as the pitch settles.
Weather forecasts predict warm temperatures between 23 and 25 degrees Celsius with a chance of thunderstorms, and an east-southeast breeze gusting up to 32 km/h, all factors that could influence play during the five-day contest.
The opening day saw South Africa's pace spearhead Kagiso Rabada deliver a brilliant spell, claiming early wickets and unsettling the Australian top order. Rabada removed Usman Khawaja for a duck and Cameron Green for four runs in the seventh over. Marco Jansen supported with key dismissals, including Marnus Labuschagne and Travis Head before lunch, leaving Australia precariously placed at 4-67.
However, a resilient partnership between Steve Smith and all-rounder Beau Webster shifted momentum. Smith, who reached a well-earned half-century, and Webster, who scored his second Test fifty, combined for a 79-run stand that steadied the innings. Despite some wayward bowling and multiple no-balls from South Africa’s Wiaan Mulder, Australia managed to reach tea at 5-190, with Webster unbeaten on 55 and wicketkeeper Alex Carey on 22.
South Africa’s bowling discipline was tested, with nine no-balls bowled during the match so far, adding to a total of 124 no-balls in the current World Test Championship cycle, second only to England. This lack of precision could prove costly in a tight contest.
Steve Smith, Australia's leading active run-scorer at Lord's with 525 runs at an average of 58.33, was eventually dismissed by part-time spinner Aiden Markram for 66, edging a catch to Marco Jansen at slip. This wicket was a crucial breakthrough for South Africa as Australia looked to build a competitive total.
South Africa’s captain Temba Bavuma expressed confidence in the team’s selection and strategy, acknowledging the significance of playing at Lord’s. "We'll have a bowl first," Bavuma said at the toss. "The surface looks a good one, with solid overhead conditions. I'm happy. It's too late now for anything else. We've selected the best team for the conditions. It's massive. I think all of us have some sort of allegiance to Lord's. It should be a spectacle of a game."
Australia’s captain Pat Cummins, meanwhile, was satisfied with the decision to bat second. "There's a few clouds but that's not unusual for England," he noted. "It's dry and might turn later in the match. I don't think there's any extra pressure (as defending champions). We've been here before and won it. This week is about enjoying it."
This final carries immense historical weight. South Africa aims to secure their first major ICC title since the 1998 ICC Knockout, ending a 27-year drought marked by near misses and heartbreaks in global tournaments. Australia, having won the 2023 WTC final against India, seeks to become the first nation to win consecutive World Test Championship titles, cementing their dominance in the longest format.
Adding to the cricketing celebrations in London, the ICC held its 2025 Hall of Fame induction ceremony at Abbey Road Studios, near Lord's, honoring legends including former India captain MS Dhoni, South Africa’s Hashim Amla and Graeme Smith, and Australia’s Matthew Hayden. Dhoni, celebrated for redefining wicketkeeper-batsman roles and leading India to three ICC white-ball titles, expressed gratitude for the honor, saying, "It is an honor to be named in the ICC Hall of Fame, which recognizes the contributions of cricketers across generations and from all over the world." This event underscored the rich cricketing heritage surrounding the WTC final.
Looking ahead, the Lord’s pitch and conditions suggest an enthralling contest where bowlers will have early advantages but batsmen with technique and temperament can thrive. Both teams possess deep batting line-ups and potent bowling attacks, making this a finely balanced encounter.
As the match progresses, fans can expect moments of brilliance, strategic battles, and the kind of drama that only a World Test Championship final at Lord's can deliver. With the score at 5-190 in Australia’s favor at tea on Day 1, the battle is far from decided, promising a gripping contest over the remaining days.
This clash not only represents a fight for the prestigious WTC mace but also a chance for South Africa to rewrite their history and for Australia to reinforce their status as Test cricket’s powerhouse.
