South Africa and Australia brace themselves for an intense World Test Championship (WTC) Final showdown at Lord's Cricket Ground in London. The mouth-watering showdown will commence on June 11 and run till June 15, with a provision of a reverse day. The high-stakes contest will be viewed by millions around the world as two of the world's best cricketing nations prepare to lock horns. 

What makes this encounter more interesting is the fact that the two sides haven't met each other in this format for over two years now. The last Test was played way back in January 2023, where South Africa managed to hold on to a draw but went on to concede the series 2-0. For South Africa, it is their maiden appearance in the WTC Final and a chance for them to bag an ICC title that has eluded them for generations. Australia, on the other hand, are the defending champs and will look to defend the mace, which they won by defeating India in the final by 209 runs. 

South Africa's journey in the current World Test Championship (WTC) cycle has been a remarkable tale of resilience, strategic brilliance, and peak performance under pressure. After a challenging start, they surged to the top of the standings, becoming the first team to qualify for the Final. The team underwent some rough patches throughout the journey, losing to a dominant New Zealand team by 2-0 in February 2024 and leveling the series 1-1 against India at home, which should have been won. From late 2024 onwards, South Africa found their rhythm, sweeping clean Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan at home.

Australia's road to their second consecutive WTC Final has seen moments of brilliance and sheer dominance. Unlike the case with South Africa, Australia have not lost a single Test series in this WTC cycle and some of their most defining moment came during India's tour of Australia in late 2024, where Australia exhibited tremendous might and sheer skill to win back the Border Gavaskar Trophy after 11 long years.

Both teams have implemented strategic modifications in preparation for the final, with Australia choosing to include Marnus Labuschagne to bat alongside Usman Khawaja. Conversely, South Africa has preferred Lungi Ngidi, despite his extended hiatus from Test cricket, to accompany Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen in the pace bowling unit.

See also: SA vs AUS Dream11 Prediction WTC Final Fantasy Cricket Tips World Test Championship, 2025

Match Details

Match	South Africa vs Australia, WTC Final 2025
Venue	Lord's Cricket Ground, London
Date & Time (IST)	Thursday, June 11, 3:30 PM
Live Broadcast and Streaming Details	Star Sports Network & JioHostar

Pitch Report

Lord’s Cricket Ground in London is renowned for its unique pitch characteristics that offer a balanced contest between bat and ball, making it a revered venue for Test cricket. The playing surface generally provides support for fast bowlers, particularly during the initial phases of the match. Cloudy weather can improve the chances for swing bowling as a result of heightened humidity. The venue has a natural slope that descends 2.5 meters from the north end to the south end of the ground. This gradient affects bowling lines and can cause the ball to move unpredictably. Batting can be relatively non-laborious in the first couple of days, but the wear and tear of the surface can make batting an arduous experience leading into the final days of the Test. Past figures show that in 147 Tests, teams batting first have won 53 of them. 

Head-to-Head record

Matches	101
Won by South Africa	26
Won by Australia	54
Draw	21
First-ever Fixture	October 11, 1902
Most-recent Fixture	December 26, 2022
SA vs AUS (Last 5 Tests)	2-2

Playing XIs

South Africa

Temba Bavuma (C), Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton, Wiaan Mulder, Tristian Stubbs, David Bedingham, Kyle Verrynne, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi.

Australia
Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Beau Webster, Steve Smith, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood