South Africa’s red-ball resurgence reaches its most significant chapter yet as they gear up to face defending champions Australia in the World Test Championship (WTC) Final at Lord’s from June 11.
Led by Temba Bavuma, the Proteas are determined to end a 25-year drought for an ICC title and claim the coveted WTC mace for the first time.
Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!The Proteas topped the WTC 2023–25 points table with a points percentage (PCT) of 69.44%, winning 8 of their 12 matches, drawing one, and losing just three. Their journey to the summit clash was defined by grit, adaptability, and a dominant home record.
South Africa’s campaign began with a closely contested 1-1 draw against India on home soil. While a 2-0 away loss to New Zealand briefly dented their momentum, the team quickly bounced back with a 1-0 away win in the Caribbean.
From there, Bavuma’s men went on a dominant run, registering consecutive 2-0 series victories against Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Their all-round strength - a potent pace attack led by Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi, supported by Keshav Maharaj’s spin and a steadily improving batting core - began to click.
Their defining moment came at Centurion, where South Africa edged past Pakistan in a thrilling two-wicket victory. That win not only secured the series 2-0 but also marked their seventh consecutive Test victory in the WTC cycle — sealing their place in the final as table-toppers.
Who's that IPL player?The squad for the final blends youth and experience, with Bavuma joined by in-form players like Aiden Markram, Marco Jansen and David Bedingham, while veterans like Rabada will be key to handling Australia’s fierce challenge.
The stage is now set at Lord’s — the Home of Cricket — for what promises to be a thrilling climax to the WTC cycle, as South Africa chase history. The wait for a major ICC trophy could end — but only if the Proteas pass the Ultimate Test.
Match Details- Venue: Lord’s, London
- Dates: June 11–15 (Reserve Day: June 16)
- Start Time: 10:30 AM Local Time (3 PM IST)
South Africa’s Squad for WTC Final
South Africa: Tony de Zorzi, Ryan Rickelton, Aiden Markram, Temba Bavuma (c), David Bedingham, Tristan Stubbs, Kyle Verreynne, Wiaan Mulder, Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, Dane Paterson, Keshav Maharaj, Senuran Muthusamy
The TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the ...
Read MoreThe TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the essence of live sporting events and deliver compelling content to readers worldwide.
From running live blogs for India and non-India cricket matches to global spectacles featuring Indian talents, like the Chess World Cup final featuring Praggnanandhaa and the Badminton World Championships semifinal featuring HS Prannoy, our live coverage extends to all mega sporting events. We extensively cover events like the Olympics, Asian Games, Cricket World Cups, FIFA World Cups, and more.
The desk is also adept at writing comprehensive match reports and insightful post-match commentary, complemented by stats-based articles that provide an in-depth analysis of player performances and team dynamics.
We track news wires for key stories, conduct exclusive player interviews in both text and video formats, and file content from print editions and reporters. We keep track of all viral stories, trending topics and produce our own copies on the subjects.
We deliver accurate, engaging, and up-to-the-minute sports content, round the clock.
Read Less
Start a Conversation
Post comment