ICC World Test Championship: Australia announces playing XI for the final at Lord's
Australia captain
Pat Cummins
on Tuesday revealed his side's playing XI for the
ICC World Test Championship
at Lord's. Cummins spoke to the media in London and announced the XI the reigning World Test Championship winners will use is exactly the one as predicted by Australian great Ricky Ponting on The ICC Review last month.
Former No.1 ranked Test batter
Marnus Labuschagne
will push up the order to open alongside Usman Khawaja, while Josh Hazlewood won the race against Scott Boland to partner left-armer
Mitchell Starc
and Cummins in the pace attack.
All-rounder Cameron Green will play his first Test since back surgery, while Beau Webster retains his spot in the XI and will provide the bowlers some support with his medium pace and spin options.
Meanwhile, South Africa captain Temba Bavuma has already announced the playing XI of his side. Bavuma headlines a well-rounded lineup that offers the first-time WTC Finalists multiple options in all departments of the game.
Headlining the batting order is Ryan Rickelton, who has been South Africa's top-scorer in the WTC 2023/25 cycle, alongside Bavuma - not too far behind in the scoring charts, Aiden Markram, and Tristan Stubbs.
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Australia XI:
1. Usman Khawaja, 2. Marnus Labuschagne, 3. Cameron Green, 4. Steve Smith, 5. Travis Head, 6. Beau Webster, 7. Alex Carey (wk), 8. Pat Cummins (c), 9. Mitchell Starc, 10. Nathan Lyon, 11. Josh Hazlewood.
South Africa playing XI:
Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton, Wiaan Mulder, Temba Bavuma (c), Tristan Stubbs, David Bedingham, Kyle Verrynne (wk), Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi.
South Africa topped the ICC World Test Championship 2023/25 Standings to book their ticket in the Ultimate Test, swiftly followed by the defending champions.
The two teams will collide in the much-awaited contest starting 11 June at the Lord's Cricket Ground.
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