WTC Final: Three key battles to watch out for as South Africa aim for glory against Australia

Australia and South Africa are set to face off in the World Test Championship final at Lord's starting Wednesday, with reigning champions Australia looking to defend their title. The match will feature intense battles between formidable fast bowlers, challenging batting conditions and a potentially significant spin bowling impact on what appears to be a dry pitch.

Australia's bowling attack is led by captain Pat Cummins, who approaches a milestone of 300 Test wickets, currently standing at 294 wickets from 67 matches at an impressive average of 22.43. Mitchell Starc, with 382 Test wickets at 27.57, will join him in the pace attack.

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A test for the top-order

The Australian team faces a selection dilemma between experienced Josh Hazlewood and Scott Boland, similar to their situation two years ago when they chose Boland for the successful WTC final against India.

South Africa's batting lineup will be tested, with openers Aiden Markram and Ryan Rickelton facing a formidable challenge against the Australian pace attack. "I think there's a quiet confidence among the batting group... While there might not be superstar names among them, I think as a collective we're pretty confident," said South Africa coach Shukri Conrad.



Australia has struggled to find a consistent opening partner for Usman Khawaja since David Warner's retirement 17 months ago. Marnus Labuschagne is expected to become the fifth player to attempt the role, marking his first Test as an opener.

South Africa's bowling attack will be spearheaded by Kagiso Rabada, who returns from a one-month ban for recreational drug use. Rabada brings an impressive record of 327 Test wickets at 22 apiece, supported by Marco Jansen.

Spin to win?

Spin bowling could play a crucial role on the dry Lord's pitch. Australia's Nathan Lyon, with 553 Test wickets at an average of just over 30, and South Africa's Keshav Maharaj, approaching 200 Test wickets, will be key players.


"I think spin will play a big part, particularly as the game wears on," said Steve Smith, adding: "It does look like quite a dry surface and I think the footmarks will definitely come into play as the game wears on."

The battle of the wicketkeepers

The wicketkeeping battle will be significant at Lord's, where the swinging ball presents unique challenges for overseas keepers. Australia's Alex Carey, who was involved in a controversial stumping incident two years ago, has proven himself with both bat and gloves, including a Test century against South Africa in December 2022.



South Africa's Kyle Verreynne brings impressive credentials with four hundreds in 24 Tests and 77 dismissals behind the stumps. Both teams' wicketkeepers must carefully manage their positioning to ensure edges carry to the slip cordon while dealing with the pronounced swing at Lord's.

The match presents multiple tactical challenges for both captains, Pat Cummins and Temba Bavuma, who must manage their bowling resources effectively, particularly in utilizing their spinners to maintain control and prevent overworking their fast bowlers.