Aussie gamble backfires as cricket world reacts to baffling scenes in WTC final
Beau Webster has made South Africa pay for a baffling decision not to review a plum LBW after top-scoring for Australia in the first innings of the WTC final at Lord's. Webster (72 runs) and Steve Smith (66) rescued the Aussies from a precarious position against South Africa on day one after the selection gambles to promote Marnus Labuschagne to open and recalling Cam Green to bat at No.3 backfired badly.
The Aussies were reeling at 4-67 in the opening session after controversial Proteas quick Kagsio Rabada (5-51) ripped through the top order. But Webster and Smith put on a crucial 79-run partnership to help Australia set a respectable total of 212. Superstar pace trio Mitchell Starc (2-10), Pat Cummins (1-14), and Josh Hazlewood (1-10) then struck in the final session to leave South Africa in trouble at 4-43 at stumps.
The situation could have been much different had the Proteas opted to review a plum LBW call on Webster when he was on just eight. South Africa had earlier used two unsuccessful reviews on the Aussie allrounder but kept their challenges as both were ruled umpire's call.
But skipper Temba Bavuma will be kicking himself that he chose not to review a third decision which would have had the towering Tasmanian trapped lbw. Rabada - who had been causing Webster all sorts of trouble - sent down a fierce delivery that struck the Aussie low on the pads and looked like it was going on to crash into the stumps.
😲 Beau Webster survives… just!It was hitting middle stump, but umpire's call saves him! 🧢South Africa can't believe it, a big moment in the balance! ⚖️#WTCFinal #AUSvSA pic.twitter.com/ZUdzf3bItK
— Anis Sajan (@mrcricketuae) June 11, 2025
The South African quick - returning from a one-month ban for testing positive to cocaine - thought Webster had got an inside edge and only half-heartedly appealed. And Bavuma agreed after passing up the chance to review the not out call, despite replays showing a clear gap between bat and ball and Webster caught dead to rights.
"(Squad member) Corbin Bosch came down to fine leg, and he says it was out," Rabada recalled when he discovered the Proteas had blown an opportunity. "I was like, 'oh man!'. It was a bit annoying." Smith added: "It looked pretty good to me from the other end. I don't know what happened actually."
"That's as plumb as it gets."South Africa bizarrely decided not to review this, but replays showed Beau Webster would have been on his way if they did. (Image courtesy: Prime)🟢 Catch every ball of the WTC Final on the ABC listen app: https://t.co/C8kbiNiNkv pic.twitter.com/xnBt6Fjygd
— ABC SPORT (@abcsport) June 11, 2025
That's plumb, how is Webster not out?Why didn't South Africa appeal more?#WTFFinal
— Cai 🏴 (@Cai_CFC) June 11, 2025
South Africa have got a lot right so far. But that's a big review missed. Webster clipped his pad which caused the two noises. They still had 3 reviews. #WTCFinal pic.twitter.com/QP0P7RRgP5
— Coach lukas (@lukeR15sky) June 11, 2025
The blunder proved very costly for South Africa as Webster went on to hit a career-best Test score with the bat, before finally succumbing to Rabada's brilliance. The Proteas quick was Australia's chief tormentor and his superb first session spell left many questioning a couple of eye-opening selection calls for the Aussies, particularly the opening partnership of Usman Khawaja and Labuschagne.
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After removing Khawaja for a 20-ball duck, Rabada then sent and Cameron Green packing for four in the same over. Green was playing his first Test since March 2024 after undergoing back surgery last year, with many critics questioning whether he should come straight back in the Test side and bat at No.3 and the selection call certainly failed to pay off.
Labuschagne's first innings as a Test opener did not go to plan either, despite a bright start that saw him get through to drinks unscathed. But as has often been the case over the last couple of years, the under-fire Labuschagne struggled to keep the run rate ticking and got bogged down at the crease before departing for just 17 after 90 minutes in the middle.
The Queenslander got caught between playing a shot and leaving a Marco Jansen delivery and nicked one behind to raise further questions around his Test future. Labuschagne won the battle to be Khawaja's fifth opening partner in 18 months but with Sam Konstas waiting in the wings and a sense that the final at Lord's represents the last chance for the 30-year-old, Labuschagne may need to produce something special in the second innings to save his Test career.
Poor batting once again by marnus ,went to unnecessary shell in last 30 mins #WTCFinal #AUSvSA
— Sai Dattu Chowdary (@saidattu264) June 11, 2025
Surely that's Marnus' career basically over...has done sweet nothing for ages now. #WTCFinal
— Scobey 👑 (@Scobey__) June 11, 2025
Marnus still following his new template of trying to bat for long by leaving balls. Didn't work well in India series, and here too he is giving SA bowlers time to come up with plans #AUSvSA #SAvAUS #WTCFinal
— Gaurav Jindal (@gj100596) June 11, 2025
Well we most certaintly got top level bowling. Rabada and Jansen were brilliant, but the big 3 wrecked house in response. Day 2 South Africa's inexperience will be tested here, Australia's batting performance was not great,Marnus/Uzzie is an awful opening combination #WTCFinal https://t.co/o0qDTEp9dI
— AbbyCinemaSnobC (@AbdullahHepC) June 11, 2025
with AAP
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