The ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final will be played between South Africa and Australia, with captains Temba Bavuma and Pat Cummins leading their respective sides. Both teams boast powerful bowling attacks, and the title will go to the team that performs best on the big day. The match is scheduled to be held at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground in London. Let’s take a look at how the pitch is expected to behave for this crucial encounter.
Australia’s Road to the Final
Australia will be playing their second consecutive WTC final. In the previous cycle, they defeated India to win the title. Under Pat Cummins’ leadership, the team has won 13 out of their 19 matches in this cycle.
South Africa’s Journey
South Africa had a strong run, winning 8 out of their 12 matches and finishing at the top of the points table, thereby securing their place in the final.
WTC Final Lord’s Pitch Report (11–15 June)
Weather conditions during the final are expected to be overcast with a chance of rain, which may affect play. The pitch at Lord’s offers good bounce, which will favour the fast bowlers. Expect seam movement and swing due to the windy conditions, especially helpful for bowlers who can bowl consistently on a good line and length.
Batsmen will need to be cautious, especially with balls moving away outside the off-stump, and avoid risky shots early in the innings. However, the outfield will be quick, which means that once a batsman settles in, scoring boundaries will be easier.
If the team batting first manages to score more than 350 runs, they will likely gain a strong advantage in the match.
Related: SA vs AUS WTC 2025 Final Playing XI Announced — Boland Misses Out
Squads for the WTC Final
South Africa: Tony de Zorzi, Ryan Rickelton, Aiden Markram, Temba Bavuma (captain), David Bedingham, Tristan Stubbs, Kyle Verreynne, Wiaan Mulder, Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, Dane Paterson, Keshav Maharaj, Senuran Muthusamy.
Australia: Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Alex Carey, Josh Inglis, Cameron Green, Beau Webster, Pat Cummins (captain), Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Scott Boland, Nathan Lyon, Matt Kuhnemann.
With the stage set at the historic Lord’s, the world awaits to see which team will lift the WTC mace – will Australia defend their crown or will South Africa script a historic triumph?