Australia with the World Test Championship title after defeating India in 2023. Australia will be facing South Africa in the WTC final at Lords on June 11, 2025. | Photo Credit: Getty ImagesWhen it comes to major cricket finals, Australia stands in a league of its own. They are the only team to have won all four of the men’s global trophies. Australia is a powerhouse in finals, triumphing in 10 of the 13 they’ve contested across the 50-over World Cup, T20 World Cup, Champions Trophy, and World Test Championship. And that’s without even mentioning their women’s team, which is even more dominant.
Now, the Australian men are chasing their 11th world title as they head into the WTC final against South Africa at Lord’s starting Wednesday. Australia's ability to deliver in high-pressure moments is in sharp contrast to South Africa, a team historically known for underachievement on the big stage. The Proteas' only major international title remains the 1998 Champions Trophy’s predecessor—won when many of today’s squad members were still toddlers.
South Africa enters with an experienced group—average age 29.5—united by a tight bond and a relentless determination to support each other. This resilience was evident throughout the 2023-25 WTC cycle, where South Africa used 30 players—more than any other team—and consistently found match-winners when it mattered most. They secured seven consecutive Test victories to become the first team to qualify for the final.
“We haven’t been super dominant in our performances,” South Africa captain Temba Bavuma admitted when they booked their place in December. “We definitely haven’t been clinical or ruthless when the situation demanded it. But we’ve always found a way to get the result on our side.”
Australia, on the other hand, will field a nearly unchanged squad from their 2023 final victory over India, where they won by a commanding 209 runs at The Oval. Ten of those eleven players return—only David Warner is absent following his retirement from Test cricket.
Fast bowler Josh Hazlewood, who missed the 2023 final due to injury, is expected to replace Scott Boland. Hazlewood recently spearheaded Royal Challengers Bengaluru to their first IPL title, taking 22 wickets in 12 innings despite overcoming a shoulder injury.
However, the question of Warner’s long-term replacement as opener remains unresolved. Sam Konstas made an impressive debut at 19 against India in December, but Travis Head was preferred to open in Sri Lanka in February. Both remain in contention.
Meanwhile, Marnus Labuschagne is struggling for form. He averaged just 28.33 during the WTC cycle and couldn’t find his rhythm playing for Glamorgan in England’s second-tier County Championship last month.
In contrast, allrounder Cameron Green has impressed, scoring three centuries for Gloucestershire as he returned from lower spine surgery, though he’s still not ready to resume bowling.
Bowling depth remains Australia’s strength. Four of their top ten all-time wicket-takers are in this squad: Nathan Lyon (553, 3rd), Mitchell Starc (382, 4th), captain Pat Cummins (294, 8th), and Hazlewood (279, 10th).
Steve Smith is locked in at No. 4. He turned 36 last week and, like Konstas, Usman Khawaja, Lyon, Boland, and wicketkeeper Alex Carey, hasn’t played top-flight cricket since March. Yet, Australia trusts these veterans to rise to the occasion. Smith is in excellent Test form, with four centuries in his last five matches, and recently surpassed 10,000 career runs. His Lord’s average stands at an impressive 58.
Whoever opens with Khawaja will quickly face South Africa’s pace spearhead Kagiso Rabada, who has dismissed Khawaja five times in ten matches. Rabada, sitting on 327 Test wickets, is just three shy of equaling Allan Donald for fourth on South Africa’s all-time list. He will be backed by left-armer Marco Jansen, who claimed 29 wickets in six matches this cycle.
The third seamer spot is likely between Lungi Ngidi, who featured in the IPL, and Dane Paterson, who has been effective for Middlesex in County Division Two.
South Africa has confirmed Aiden Markram and Ryan Rickelton as their openers, with captain Bavuma slated for No. 4. Both Markram and Bavuma also competed in the IPL.
Middle-order batter David Bedingham, South Africa’s top scorer in this WTC cycle, has recovered from a broken toe suffered in April, as he demonstrated in a warm-up game against Zimbabwe.
Interestingly, the finalists didn’t face each other during this WTC cycle. Their last meeting was in January 2023, when Australia dominated a home series 2-0.
South Africa also didn’t play England in this cycle but still topped the standings with eight wins from 12 Tests, despite forfeiting a series in New Zealand to prioritize their domestic T20 league.
Australia, who didn’t play last-place Bangladesh, secured their final spot by beating India in January, finishing with 13 wins in 19 Tests and losing only twice away from home.
The venue, Lord’s, holds no particular psychological edge for either side. South Africa has lost just once there in seven post-apartheid appearances, including an innings victory inside three days in 2022. Australia hasn’t lost at Lord’s in the last decade.