WTC Final: Sanjay Bangar delivers blunt message in warning to Australia and South Africa
Pat Cummis and Temba Bavuma ahead of the WTC final at Lord's (Image via X/@JayShah)
Former India coach
Sanjay Bangar
has cautioned that South Africa and Australia cannot rely on their past performances at Lord's Cricket Ground ahead of the World Test Championship final on Wednesday, emphasizing that winning will require playing their best cricket regardless of historical success at the venue of the finale.
South Africa's record at Lord's since 1991 shows five wins, one loss, and one draw. Australia has secured 18 victories in 40 matches at the historic venue. Despite the impressive numbers, Bangar believes neither team will have an advantage over the other in the upcoming championship match.
"I don't go by statistics and what has happened in the past. The thing is that there are multiple players, and a generation of players has now changed.
There were the likes of Hashim Amla, AB de Villiers and Faf du Plessis at one time. But now there is a new generation of South African cricketers. For them, it could be a part of the folklore, but if they have to win, they have to play good cricket. In sports, past history and records don't mean anything," JioStar expert Sanjay Bangar told ANI in a media conference on the eve of the ICC World Test Championship Final 2025.
Poll
Which team do you believe has the edge in the World Test Championship final at Lord's?
South Africa
Australia
"If you can go out and try to play your best cricket, ensure that most of your players perform on the given day. If the majority of your players are performing, then you place yourself in the best possible chance to win on that particular day. Both these teams, despite the very strong legacy that they have at this particular venue, they still can't take anything for granted and have to play their best cricket on the day," he added.
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Bangar's comments highlight the importance of current performance over historical achievements, noting that team composition has evolved significantly over the years, particularly for the Proteas.
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