&w=3840&q=100)
Australia announce Test squad for WTC final 2025 vs South Africa at Lord's
Flamboyant opener Sam Konstas and fully-fit all-rounder Cameron Green have earned spots in Australia's 15-member squad for the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2025 final against South Africa. The high-stakes match will be held at Lord's in London from June 11 to 15, with Pat Cummins leading the side in their quest to retain the prestigious mace.
No major surprises in squad selection
The squad features a familiar lineup, largely unchanged from the one that faced India and Sri Lanka earlier this year.
'The team capped the WTC cycle with a strong series win in Sri Lanka, following an impressive summer where we defeated India for the first time in a decade,' said chief selector George Bailey, as quoted by cricket.com.au.
He added, 'These consistent performances over the two-year cycle have earned us an exciting chance to defend our WTC title. Reaching the final means a great deal to this group, and they are eager for the challenge South Africa will bring.'
Konstas had missed out on selection during the Sri Lanka tour and was sent home early. He had been playing domestic cricket for New South Wales and had previously impressed with a vibrant debut against India in Melbourne, though he struggled to maintain that form.
Green, on the other hand, returns after recovering from a back injury that required surgery last year.
Kuhnemann, Doggett named as reserves
Spinner Matt Kuhnemann has been included as a backup to frontline spinner Nathan Lyon. Meanwhile, pacer Brendan Doggett has been named as a travelling reserve, ready to step in if needed.
Squad to tour West Indies post WTC Final
Following the WTC final, the same Australian squad will head to the Caribbean for a three-Test series against the West Indies, with matches scheduled in Barbados, Grenada, and Jamaica starting June 25.
Cummins, Hazlewood back after injury Layoffs
Skipper Pat Cummins and fellow quick Josh Hazlewood return to the squad after sitting out the Sri Lanka Tests and Champions Trophy due to injuries. Both made successful comebacks during their stints in the Indian Premier League.
Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland complete the pace attack, with Doggett in reserve. The South Australian seamer has shown form in county cricket, picking up nine wickets in his first two matches for Durham.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
36 minutes ago
- Time of India
WTC Final: ' I'm still trying to fathom how I've done that' Steve Smith on his dismissal to Aiden Markram
achieved a new milestone as the most successful overseas batter at Lord's cricket ground during day one of the World Test Championship final between Australia and South Africa, despite being dismissed for 66 runs by part-time spinner after helping Australia recover from early trouble to post 212 all out. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Smith's innings proved crucial in stabilizing Australia after they were reduced to 4-67, forming a 79-run partnership with Beau Webster for the fifth wicket. During his knock, Smith surpassed Don Bradman's tally of 551 runs and Warren Bardsley's record of 575 runs at Lord's, which had stood for nearly a century. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! South Africa's decision to bowl first under gloomy conditions proved effective as their pace attack, led by , created significant problems for Australia's top order. "I felt in a nice place, I love batting here at Lord's," Smith said. "I enjoyed my time out there while I was out there (but) left a few in the shed unfortunately." Smith expressed bewilderment at his dismissal to Markram's off-spin. "Don't nick the part-time off-spinner. Down the slope. I'm still trying to fathom how I've done that," he said. WTC Final: Steve Smith on future, facing South Africa and revised format Speaking about the pitch conditions, Smith provided detailed insights. "I feel day one here it always offers a little bit of something, even when the colour of the wicket was quite white. I've seen one-day wickets that we've played on here where it's been similar and it's actually seamed quite a bit, particularly with the newer ball. So I always feel like it offers something, particularly early on in the game. As the grass dies down, I think it's going to offer less. " Kagiso Rabada continued his impressive record at Lord's, claiming his second five-wicket haul at the venue. His performance helped him surpass Morne Morkel's record of 15 wickets to become South Africa's most successful bowler at Lord's with 18 wickets. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Quiz: Rabada also moved past Allan Donald's career Test wicket tally of 330, climbing to fourth place on South Africa's all-time list with 332 wickets. Reflecting on the day's play, Rabada shared his observations about the conditions. "The ball was nipping quite a bit and at times moving off the slope a lot. But I still felt like batters could get in. If you just bowled well and got more balls in the right area for a long period of time, then that's when you could create chances." Smith remained optimistic about Australia's position in the match. "Hopefully we can get a few early wickets in the morning, go through them and have a bit of a lead – that's the ideal scenario for us right now," he said. The match represents a significant opportunity for both teams in the World Test Championship final, with Australia looking to defend their position as the number one ranked Test side and South Africa aiming to capitalize on their strong bowling performance.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
WTC final: Proteas pacer Kagiso Rabada shines with milestone; Aussie batter Usman Khawaja slips into unwanted record book
Day 1 of the World Test Championship (WTC) final between South Africa and Australia saw the Aussies bowled out for 212, while the Proteas ended the day at 43 for 4 in 22 overs at Lord's, London. As the Test match continues to take dramatic turns in England, several players have etched their names into the record books—some for remarkable milestones, others for less desirable ones. Two such players who made it into the record books on Wednesday (June 11) are South African fast bowler Kagiso Rabada and Australian batter Usman Khawaja. Kagiso Rabada shines with milestone South Africa's pace spearhead Kagiso Rabada made Day 1 of the WTC Final truly memorable, as he not only rattled the Australian lineup but also etched his name into South African cricket history. Rabada delivered a standout spell, finishing with figures of 5 for 51 in 15.4 overs—an effort that proved crucial in shifting the momentum in South Africa's favour. Kagiso Rabada lights up the first session of the #WTC25 Final with two wickets in an over 🤩More 👉 With this five-wicket haul, the 30-year-old surpassed South African legend Allan Donald to become the country's fourth-highest wicket-taker in Test cricket. Rabada has now taken 332 wickets in 71 Tests, edging past Allan Donald, who claimed 330 wickets in 72 also entered elite company in World Test Championship history—becoming only the second bowler to claim a five-wicket haul in a WTC Final. The first to do so was New Zealand's Kyle Jamieson, who achieved the feat against India in the inaugural final in 2021. Usman Khawaja joins unwanted list In stark contrast to Rabada's milestone, Usman Khawaja endured a forgettable start to his WTC Final campaign as he earned an unwanted place in the record books. The Australian opener was dismissed for a 20-ball duck, one of the longest scoreless innings by an Aussie batter in Test history. Khawaja's struggle at the crease came to an end in the seventh over, when he edged a delivery from Kagiso Rabada to the slips. The dismissal saw him match a 137-year-old record, joining Sammy Jones, who also recorded a 20-ball duck against England in 1888. Only two Australians have faced more deliveries before being dismissed without scoring: David Warner (22 balls vs England, Hobart 2022) and Shaun Marsh (21 balls vs India, Pune 2017).
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
WTC Final 2025, SA Vs AUS Dream11 Predictions: WTC 2025, fantasy tips, playing XI, pitch report for day 2 – South Africa Vs Australia test match
WTC Final 2025, SA Vs AUS Dream11 Predictions, Day 2 | Credit: WTC Final 2025, SA Vs AUS Dream11 Predictions: The ICC World Test Championship Final 2025 is being played between South Africa and Australia at Lord's, London. The match runs from June 11 to June 15. Day 2 will be held on June 12, starting at 3:00 PM IST. This is South Africa's first-ever WTC final. They are up against defending champions Australia. Both teams have strong playing XIs. Kagiso Rabada and Pat Cummins are leading the bowling attacks. The match promises high-intensity action. Here's Dream11 predictions, fantasy tips, playing XI updates, and a detailed pitch report for Day 2 of this thrilling Test battle. SA Vs AUS, IPL 2025 WTC Final 2025, Day 2 winning prediction The ICC World Test Championship Final 2025 between South Africa and Australia began on June 11 at Lord's Cricket Ground. Australia scored 212 runs in the first innings, with Steve Smith top-scoring with a gritty 66. South Africa struggled in reply and ended Day 1 at 43/4. Australia's pace trio—Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, and Josh Hazlewood—put them under heavy pressure. SA vs AUS, test match, WTC prediction 2025, day 2: Kagiso Rabada was brilliant with the ball, taking five wickets. Historically, Australia has dominated South Africa in Tests, winning 54 out of 101 matches. That gives them a win rate of around 56%, while South Africa stands at 44%. WTC 2025: WTC Final 2025, Day 2 match South Africa vs Australia details Match : South Africa vs Australia, WTC Final 2025 : South Africa vs Australia, WTC Final 2025 Event : ICC World Test Championship Final, Day 2 : ICC World Test Championship Final, Day 2 Date : Wednesday, June 12, 2025 : Wednesday, June 12, 2025 Time : 3:00 PM IST : 3:00 PM IST Venue : Lord's Cricket Ground, London : Lord's Cricket Ground, London SA vs AUS streaming platforms: Jio Hotstar app, SkySports Action and website WTC 2025: SA vs AUS head-to-head records Below are the detailed head-to-head records between South Africa vs Australia, WTC Final 2025 listed Total Test matches played: 101 101 Australia wins: 54 54 South Africa wins: 26 26 Drawn matches: 21 21 Australia holds a significant overall lead in wins against South Africa In the last five Test meetings, both teams have won two matches each, with one match drawn, showing a recent balanced contest. Australia is ranked first in the ICC World Test Rankings. South Africa Predicted XI for today's test match, WTC 2025 Final, Day 2 South Africa Predicted XI for WTC Final 2025 Day 2: Temba Bavuma (c), Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton, Wiaan Mulder, Tristan Stubbs, David Bedingham, Kyle Verreynne (wk), Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi. Australia Predicted XI for today's test match, WTC 2025 Final, Day 2 Australia Predicted XI for WTC Final 2025 Day 2: Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Cameron Green, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Beau Webster, Alex Carey (wk), Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood. Dream11 Prediction SA vs AUS for WTC Test match 2025, Final: Top picks Top Dream11 picks for the SA vs AUS WTC Final 2025 Test match include Temba Bavuma, Aiden Markram, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Marco Jansen, Mitchell Starc, Kagiso Rabada, and Josh Hazlewood. SA vs AUS Dream11 Prediction for WTC 2025 match, Day 2 | Credit: YouTube SA vs AUS Dream11 Prediction for WTC 2025 match, Final (June 12, 2025) Wicket-Keeper: Ryan Rickelton Batters: Steve Smith, Travis Head, Temba Bavuma, Aiden Markram, Marnus Labuschagne Steve Smith, Travis Head, Temba Bavuma, Aiden Markram, Marnus Labuschagne All-Rounders: Marco Jansen Marco Jansen Bowlers: Pat Cummins, Kagiso Rabada, Mitchell Starc SA vs AUS Top Dream11 Picks, Day 2 (Based on Recent Performance) Top Dream11 Picks for Day 2 of WTC Final 2025: South Africa: Aiden Markram, Temba Bavuma, Tristan Stubbs, Marco Jansen, Kagiso Rabada Aiden Markram, Temba Bavuma, Tristan Stubbs, Marco Jansen, Kagiso Rabada Australia: Steve Smith, Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood WTC 2025 Stats & Records at Lord's Cricket Ground, London Below are the key WTC 2025 stats and records at the Lord's Cricket Ground, London Stadium: Venue History : Lord's Cricket Ground, established in 1814, is known as the 'Home of Cricket' and the Mecca of the sport, hosting its first Test in 1884 between England and Australia. : Lord's Cricket Ground, established in 1814, is known as the 'Home of Cricket' and the Mecca of the sport, hosting its first Test in 1884 between England and Australia. Match Hosting : Lord's has hosted 151 Test matches to date, with an average first innings score of around 310 runs. Team Records at Lord's: Australia have played 40 Tests here: 18 wins, 15 draws, 7 losses. South Africa have played 18 Tests here: 6 wins, 4 draws, 8 losses. Australia's highest team total at Lord's is 729/6 declared vs England in 1930. South Africa's highest team total at Lord's is 682/6 declared vs England in 2003. Australia's lowest total at Lord's is 53 all out vs England in 1896. South Africa's lowest total at Lord's is 58 all out vs England in 1912. Batting Records: Steve Smith became the highest-scoring visiting batsman at Lord's during the WTC Final 2025, surpassing Warren Bardsley's 575 runs with 51 runs on Day 1. Smith also surpassed Don Bradman's tally of 551 runs at Lord's. Among active players, Smith has amassed 525 runs at an average of 58.33 at Lord's. Bowling Records: Josh Hazlewood has taken 13 wickets at Lord's from 3 matches at an average of 26.15. Kagiso Rabada has also claimed 13 wickets here from 2 matches at an average of 19.38. WTC Final Result Day 1, SA vs AUS: The 2025 WTC Final is being played from June 11 to 15, with South Africa electing to field first. On Day 1, Australia scored 212 runs, with South Africa ending at 43/4. WTC Test Match 2025 Day 2: Lord's Cricket Ground, London, Pitch reports The pitch at Lord's for the 2025 World Test Championship final is expected to offer a fair battle between bat and ball. It has a firm grass covering, which helps seam bowlers early on. As the match progresses, spinners may come into play and find some grip. Teams winning the toss usually choose to bat first. History shows that sides batting first have had more success at this iconic venue. WTC Test Match 2025 Day 2: Lord's Cricket Ground, London, Weather reports The weather for the WTC Final 2025 at Lord's looks mostly dry and pleasant. Day 2 (June 12) may start cooler and overcast, with a 20% chance of light showers in the morning. This could cause a slight delay in play and help seam bowlers early on. Temperatures are expected to stay between 15–22°C, with light to moderate winds throughout the day. WTC 2025: SA Team Squad Aiden Markram, Tony de Zorzi, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, Temba Bavuma (c), David Bedingham, Kyle Verreynne (wk), Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Dane Paterson, Senuran Muthusamy, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Corbin Bosch. WTC 2025: AUS Team Squad Sam Konstas, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Travis Head, Beau Webster, Alex Carey (wk), Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland, Josh Hazlewood, Josh Inglis, Cameron Green, Matthew Kuhnemann. Stay ahead of the game with the latest updates, match highlights, and insider stories from IPL, WTC, cricket, WWE, and more! Click here. First Published: Jun 12, 2025, 07:35 IST Shivani, is an accomplished SEO content writer with 3 years of experience working with leading companies like Info Edge and PW. She holds a master's degree in history and specializes in research paper & article writing. She is also experienced in webinars & blog posts, combining her love for storytelling with creative writing. Her passion for crafting impactful content makes her work stand out, helping brands connect with their audience and achieve goals. Read More 12/6/2025 7:51:37
