Delhi NCR, Cricastar Sports Desk: The ICC World Test Championship (WTC) Final 2025, set for June 11-15 at Lord’s, pits South Africa against defending champions Australia in a historic clash. South Africa, led by Temba Bavuma, secured their first-ever final berth with a thrilling two-wicket win over Pakistan, showcasing resilience and team spirit. Australia, under Pat Cummins, clinched their spot with a 3-1 Border-Gavaskar Trophy triumph, aiming to retain the title won in 2023. This marks the first WTC final without India, promising a fierce battle between South Africa’s dynamic pace attack and Australia’s seasoned batting lineup on the iconic Lord’s stage.
Here are all the important points to know about the ICC World Test Championship Final 2025:
Match Details:
Teams: South Africa vs Australia
Format: Test match (one-off final)
Dates: Wednesday, June 11, 2025 – Sunday, June 15, 2025
Reserve Day: Monday, June 16, 2025
Venue: Lord’s Cricket Ground, London, United Kingdom
Start Time: 03:00 PM IST (subject to change), 10:00 AM GMT
Also Read: A Comprehensive Guide to Batting and Bowling in Cricket
Teams Qualification:
South Africa: Finished top of the league table with a percentage of total points won (PCT) of 69.44. They won 8, lost 3, and drew 1 of their 12 matches. This will be South Africa’s first appearance in a WTC final.
Australia: Finished second in the league table with a PCT of 67.54. They won 13, lost 4, and drew 2 of their 19 matches. Australia are the defending champions, having won the previous edition in 2023 against India.
Road to the Final (Brief Overview):
Australia: Their campaign included drawing the Ashes in England, dominating Pakistan at home, a series draw against West Indies, and series wins against New Zealand and Sri Lanka. A crucial 3-1 series win against India secured their spot.
South Africa: They started with a drawn series against India at home, faced setbacks in New Zealand, but then secured a series win against West Indies away and dominated at home against Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. A dramatic win against Pakistan sealed their place in the final.
Also Read: Cricket’s Three Major Formats: An In-Depth Overview
Venue Information:
Lord’s Cricket Ground is a historic and iconic venue in London. Australia has a good recent record at Lord’s, having not lost their last three Tests there (two wins, one draw). Steve Smith has an exceptional batting average at the ground in this period. South Africa has also won two of their last three Tests at Lord’s. Kagiso Rabada has a strong bowling record at the venue.
Lord’s Pitch Report:
The Lord’s pitch generally provides a balanced surface for Test cricket, favoring bowlers, particularly fast bowlers, based on recent matches. It supports both pace and spin, but quicker bowlers often have a greater impact.
Weather Information:
The weather in London during June is typically mild with average daytime temperatures of 19-21°C. Rainfall is moderate, with June being one of the drier months.
Australia and South Africa Head to Head in Tests:
Australia and South Africa have faced each other in a total of 101 Test matches across various venues, showcasing one of cricket’s most competitive rivalries. Australia has secured 26 victories overall, while South Africa has edged ahead with 29 wins. The contests have also seen 21 draws, highlighting the closely matched nature of these two cricketing powerhouses.
In matches played on Australian soil, the hosts have won 23 out of 44 Tests, with South Africa claiming victory in 10, and 11 games ending in draws. On the other hand, South Africa has a stronger record at home, winning 16 out of 54 Tests, compared to Australia’s 9 wins and 29 draws. At neutral venues, only three matches have been played, with one draw and no wins for either side. This enduring rivalry continues to be a thrilling chapter in the history of Test cricket.
| Venue | Played | Won by Australia | Won by South Africa | Tied | Drawn |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| In Australia | 44 | 23 | 10 | 0 | 11 |
| In South Africa | 54 | 9 | 16 | 0 | 29 |
| Neutral Venue | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Total | 101 | 26 | 29 | 0 | 43 |
Key Players to Watch (Potential):
Australia: Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Usman Khawaja (batters), Pat Cummins, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood (bowlers).
South Africa: Temba Bavuma, Aiden Markram (batters), Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj (bowlers).
Points System (for the 2023-2025 Cycle):
Win: 12 points
Draw: 4 points
Tie: 6 points
Loss: 0 points
-Teams are ranked based on the percentage of total points won out of the total points contested.
-Points can be deducted for slow over-rates.
Other Important Points:
-This will be the first ICC World Test Championship final not to feature India.
-The Dukes ball is likely to be used for the final.
-Tickets for the final went on general sale on January 31, 2025.
-This information should give you a comprehensive overview of the ICC World Test Championship Final 2025.
Both Teams Squad for the WTC 2025 Final:
South Africa: Temba Bavuma (c), 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.
Australia: Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Matt Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Steve Smith (vc), Mitchell Starc, Beau Webster.
Travelling reserve: Brendan Doggett
Possible Eleven
South Africa: Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, Wiaan Mulder, Temba Bavuma, David Bedingham, Kyle Verreynne, Marco Yansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada and Dane Paterson (Corbin Bosch might be get chance in Final Eleven)
Australia: Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Marnus Labuschange, Steven Smith, Travis Head, Josh Inglis/ Alex Carrey, Cameron Green, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon
Recent Form – Last Five Test Matches
Australia
- vs India, Sydney: Won by 6 wickets
- vs India, Brisbane: Draw
- vs India, Melbourne: Won by 184 runs
- vs India, Adelaide: Won by 7 wickets
- vs India, Perth: Lost by 295 runsESPN Cricinfo
Australia secured a 3-1 series victory over India, showcasing resilience after an initial loss.
South Africa
- vs Pakistan, Cape Town: Won by 10 wickets
- vs Pakistan, Centurion: Won by 2 wickets
- vs Sri Lanka, Gqeberha: Won by 109 runs
- vs Sri Lanka, Durban: Won by 233 runs
- vs India, Johannesburg: Lost by 135 runs
South Africa enters the final on a four-match winning streak, demonstrating strong form.
Where to watch WTC Final 2025: Broadcast Licensees
Afghanistan
Licensee: Ariana TV
Linear Channels: ATN
Website: icc.tv
App: icc.tv
Australia
Licensee: Amazon
Linear Channels: N/A
Website: https://www.primevideo.com/
App: Prime Video
Bangladesh
Licensee: TSM
Linear Channels: Nagorik TV, T Sports
Website: https://toffeelive.com/
App: Toffee
Caribbean Islands
Licensee: ESPN Caribbean
Linear Channels: ESPN Caribbean
Website: espncricinfo.com
App: ESPN Play Caribbean
India+(linear feed goes into Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and the Maldives)
Licensee: JioStar
Linear Channels: Star Sports Network
Website: https://www.hotstar.com/
App: JioHotstar
Middle East & North Africa
Licensee: E&
Linear Channels: CricLife Max
Website: https://starzplay.com/en/sports
App: StarzON, StarzPlay
New Zealand
Licensee: Sky TV NZ
Linear Channels: Sky Sport 1, Sky Sport 3
Website: www.sky.co.nz, www.skysport.co.nz, www.skygo.co.nz, www.skysportnow.co.nz
App: Sky Sport Now, Sky Go
Pakistan
Licensee: PTV, Ten Sports
Linear Channels: PTV Sports, Ten Sports
Website: https://myco.io/, https://tamashaweb.com/
App: Myco, Tamasha
Papua New Guinea
Licensee: PNG Digicel
Linear Channels: TVWAN Action
Website: icc.tv
App: icc.tv
Sri Lanka
Licensee: Maharaja TV
Linear Channels: TV1
Website: www.sirasatv.lk
App: icc.tv
Sub-Saharan Africa
Licensee: SuperSport
Linear Channels: SS Cricket
Website: www.supersport.com
App: SuperSport, DSTV
UK & Ireland
Licensee: Sky Sports
Linear Channels: Sky Sports Cricket, Sky Sports Main Event
Website: https://www.skysports.com/, https://www.sky.com/watch/sky-go/windows, https://www.nowtv.com/
App: Sky Sports
USA & Canada
Licensee: Willow
Linear Channels: Willow TV(USA & Canada), Willow Xtra(USA only)
Website: www.willow.tv, www.cricbuzz.com/cb-plus/premium-content/home, www.cricbuzz.com
App: Willow TV, CricBuzz
Rest of the World
Licensee: ICC
Linear Channels: N/A
Website: icc.tv
App: icc.tv
For the full list of countries where ICC.tv will stream the tournament, visit here
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