WTC Final: ICC Chairman Jay Shah rings Lord's bell to kick off ultimate Test battle
ICC Chairman Jay Shah rang the iconic Lord's bell on Wednesday morning to signal the start of the World Test Championship Final—the pinnacle of Test cricket—between defending champions Australia and a resurgent South Africa.South Africa won the toss and elected to bowl first against reigning champions Australia at Lord's in the World Test Championship Final on Wednesday. Cloud cover dictated the decision. In overcast conditions ideal for seam bowling, South Africa's pace attack—spearheaded by Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen - exploited the movement on offer to leave Australia reeling at 67 for 4 at lunch on Day 1.advertisementAUS vs SA Live Score, WTC Final 2025 Day 1
Rabada, making his return to international cricket after serving a one-month ban following a failed drug test, looked in vintage form. The 30-year-old struck twice in the seventh over, dismissing Usman Khawaja and Cameron Green in quick succession. Khawaja, who laboured through 20 balls without scoring, edged a rising delivery to David Bedingham at slip. Green, back in the side following back surgery, flickered briefly with a boundary before perishing three balls later—caught low by Aiden Markram at second slip, a chance that required composure with Wiaan Mulder charging in from third. A privilege to ring the bell at the historic Lord's ground before the start of play on day one of the @icc World Test Championship final between @ProteasMenCSA and @CricketAus pic.twitter.com/4tsCr78aik— Jay Shah (@JayShah) June 11, 2025advertisementJansen, meanwhile, vindicated skipper Temba Bavuma's bold call to bowl first at a venue where teams often prefer to post a total. The tall left-armer removed the prized scalps of Marnus Labuschagne and Travis Head. Labuschagne, promoted to No. 3, scratched around for 17 off 56 balls before nicking one behind to Kyle Verreynne. Head fell moments before the break to a brilliant diving catch from Verreynne, capping a near-perfect session for the Proteas.Steve Smith remained unbeaten on 26 at the interval, having survived a review against Jansen just before lunch. With the floodlights on throughout the session and the clouds still looming, South Africa will sense an opportunity to press home their early advantage in this battle for Test supremacy.Must Watch
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Cummins and Carey shine as Australia remain on top in WTC final despite collapse
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel Australia captain Pat Cummins starred with the ball and Alex Carey made valuable runs following a dramatic collapse as the holders retained the advantage in the World Test Championship final against South Africa on bowler Cummins produced a sensational spell of four wickets for one run, sparking South Africa's collapse to 138 all out on the second day in reply to Australia's first innings total of 212 at Lord' collapsed to 73-7 in their second innings, with Kagiso Rabada (3-44) and Lungi Ngidi (3-35) doing the bulk of the Carey (43) and Mitchell Starc (16 not out) shared an eighth-wicket partnership of 61 before the wicketkeeper was lbw to Rabada shortly before the last over of the day saw Starc dropped on 14 when Marco Jansen shelled a routine catch off Wiaan stumps Australia were 144-8, a potentially decisive lead of 218 runs.A remarkable 28 wickets fell in two days on a pitch which, while offering some assistance to the quicks, was by no means a match scheduled for five days, could now finish before the end of the third."In England when it's overcast, the ball seems to do a bit more," Starc told the BBC."Everyone is quick to jump on the batters but you've got to notice the good bowling from both sides."Ngidi, meanwhile, insisted South Africa were still in the game."It's in the balance right now," he said. "Two wickets in hand, if we can knock those over and maybe chase 225, people are going to get their money's worth."Rabada, who had taken 5-51 in the first innings, tormented Australia again with two wickets in the 11th had Usman Khawaja caught behind for six and, two balls later, removed Cameron Green for a duck following the number three's four in the first continued to tumble after quick Jansen had Marnus Labuschagne, in his first Test as an opener, caught behind for Australia's 44-3 became 48-4 next over when Beau Webster, who top-scored in Australia's first innings with 72, fell lbw to Ngidi.- 'Led from the front' -Australia were reeling at 73-7 after Cummins was bowled off his pad by an excellent Ngidi Carey and Starc led a defiant response that kept their side on course to retain the Cummins finished with figures of 6-28 as he reached 300 career Test wickets and secured a coveted place on the Lord's honours board with a five-wicket haul."He does it time and time again," said Starc of Cummins. "He led from the front before he was captain and now as captain as well."The quality and skills he has in his pocket -- I'm thrilled for him to get a bagful. To go to 300 is a special effort."South Africa lost their last five wickets for 12 runs as Cummins ripped through the batting South Africa captain Temba Bavuma (36) and David Bedingham (45) offered meaningful resistance during a fifth-wicket stand of lunch, Cummins struck four times in a mere 17 balls of devastating pace Africa had resumed on Thursday at 43-4, battling to put enough runs on the who faced 37 balls for his overnight three not out, changed gears with a lofted cover-drive for four off left-arm quick Starc before pulling Cummins for had his revenge, however, when Bavuma's checked drive was brilliantly caught at cover by a diving then dismissed Kyle Verreynne lbw for 13 and, three balls later, held a simple return catch as Jansen fell for a Australia skipper ended the innings with his 300th Test wicket, Rabada well caught low down at deep square leg by Beau Webster.
United News of India
4 hours ago
- United News of India
Cummins claims 300th Test wicket at Lord's in WTC final
London, Jun 12 (UNI) Australia captain Pat Cummins on Thursday became the eighth Australian and 22nd bowler overall to claim 300 Test wickets, as he led a devastating bowling performance against South Africa on the second day of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final at Lord's. Cummins' extraordinary 6 for 28 — the best bowling figures by a Test captain at Lord's — dismantled South Africa's batting order and handed Australia a crucial first-innings lead in the high-stakes encounter. In a remarkable statistical milestone, the match also saw history being created as Cummins joined Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon to form the first-ever Test bowling attack featuring three players with 300 or more wickets. Josh Hazlewood, who missed the mark narrowly, sits on 280. Speaking to the host broadcaster at the innings break, Cummins said, "It's great, and I've got some family here which is nice. They were batting pretty well so happy we've got a decent lead this first innings. For any fast bowler 300 is a big number, means you've battled a few injuries and niggles, got through it and played well in different conditions." Cummins, who had struck on the first evening by removing Wiaan Mulder, returned on Thursday to claim five more wickets. He broke the resistance in the morning by dismissing Temba Bavuma and then produced a fiery post-lunch spell of 4.1-4-4, running through the South African lower order. His victims included Kyle Verreynne (lbw), Marco Jansen (caught off a leading edge), David Bedingham (outside edge), and finally Kagiso Rabada — brilliantly caught at deep square leg — which sealed his 300th wicket. With this feat, Cummins now holds the fourth-best strike rate among bowlers with over 300 Test wickets, trailing only Kagiso Rabada, Dale Steyn, and Waqar Younis. He has now taken 79 wickets at an average of 23.03 in this WTC cycle. UNI BDN SSP
India Today
4 hours ago
- India Today
Most five-wicket hauls by captains in Test cricket
Most five-wicket hauls by captains in Test cricket June 12, 2025 By Akshay Ramesh Pat Cummins stole the show on Day 2 of the World Test Championship final, leading Australia's fightback with the ball Pat Cummins took six wickets and conceded just 28 runs, helping Australia bowl South Africa out for 138 Cummins became only the second bowling captain since Bob Willis to take a six-wicket haul at Lord's. He also completed 300 wickets in his Test career. The Australia fast bowler also became the first captain to take a five-wicket haul in an ICC tournament final Cummins climbed an elite list of captains in Test cricket. Here are captains with most five-wicket hauls in Tests. The legendary former Pakistan captain has the most five-wicket hauls as captain in Test cricket t12. 1. Imran Khan The former Australian captain, a leg break bowler, took nine five-wicket hauls 2. Richie Benaud The Australia captain, a serial title-winner, took his tally to nine five-wicket hauls as skipper in Tests. 3. Pat Cummins The former India captain had finished his captaincy career with eight five-wicket hauls 4. Bishan Singh Bedi The inspiring former West Indies captain took seven five-wicket hauls in Tests as captain. 5. Jason Holder
