WTC 2025 Final: South Africa need to show more intent on Day 2, says Matthew Hayden
Mitchell Starc celebrates after picking up a wicket on Day 1 of WTC 2025 Final vs SA. (Photo: AP)
The WTC 2025 Final Day 1 ended on an even keel with defending champions Australia striking back with the ball after being bowled out for 212. Pat Cummins-led side reduced South Africa to 43 for 4 as 14 wickets fell on an exciting opening day at Lord's in London on Wednesday.
Former Australia opener and new inductee to ICC Hall of Fame, Matthew Hayden believes that Temba Bavuma's side need to show more 'intent' on the second if they hope to remain on top in this title clash.
JioStar expert Matthew Hayden offered a session-by-session breakdown after Day 1. 'I'm not entirely convinced it was Australia's day. South Africa won the first session, and Australia's comeback in the final session—nine wickets in all—was surprising. The conditions were odd: cloudy for half the day and sunny for the other half. Batting should have been easier, but it wasn't,' Hayden said.
'I'd say maybe 80% in Australia's favour, largely because of South Africa's lack of intent. That started with Temba Bavuma. As a captain, it's not just about bowling changes—it's also about setting the tone with the bat. He showed little vigour, and that's dangerous when facing three world-class fast bowlers in conditions that suit them. They need to come out with more intent on Day 2. Any signs of aggression—even those few boundaries late in the day—will help. But if they don't, Australia will come into Day 2 as firm favourites.'
Proteas captain Temba Bavuma shows positive intent early on Day 2 💪
Catch the action live on our official broadcasters here ➡ https://t.co/oas2Rsdptj#SAvAUS #Cricket #CricketReels #WTC25 pic.twitter.com/NXPaTIAwe4
— ICC (@ICC) June 12, 2025
Taking cue from Hayden, the Proteas have started the second day on a positive note. Skipper Bavuma, who tool 31 balls to get off the mark on the opening day, survived a torrid spell from Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood before opening up. But just when he was starting to look good in the middle while batting on 36, he gave a catch to Marnus Labuschagne in the covers off Cummins.
Bavuma's knock was studded with 4 fours and a six. The SA skipper's wicket ended a 63-run partnership for the 5th wicket with David Bedingham. South Africans had put on 51 runs on the second day before Aussies finally got the breakthrough.
JioStar expert Sanjay Bangar assessed the balance of Day 1 of the match. 'Clearly, it was Australia's day. They were on the back foot during the first session when South Africa bowled brilliantly — just 66 runs and four wickets in two hours. Then came a fightback through the Smith–Webster partnership. South Africa tried to claw back, but by losing four wickets later, they handed the advantage back to Australia. With the amount of seam movement on this pitch, the scoreboard doesn't reflect a par score. Australia is in a strong position,' former Team India assistant coach Bangar said.
JioStar expert and former South Africa pacer Dale Steyn reflected on Mitchell Starc's impact with the ball. 'He's really quick through the air, and I certainly think he rushes a lot of batsmen. When you're a bit nervous and your feet aren't moving the way you want — just like Aiden Markram — he was caught in the crease, unsure whether to go forward or not. Starc had already gone past the bat a few times, maybe even beaten him on the inside edge once or twice. Then Rickelton decided he could hit it through the covers, and, the best Test bowlers in the world have this ability to pull their length back just slightly. A batter thinks he's got it covered, but then it kicks up, moves just a little more, finds the edge.
'That's what Starc, Cummins, and Hazlewood have done so well over the years. But it's also about big-match temperament. He's done it before, he believes he can do it again—and when he does, it becomes a habit. He also builds a reputation. He gets the backing of his captain. We know how he's going to do it, and if you look at his wickets, they're all very similar.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India.com
32 minutes ago
- India.com
Steve Smith Injury Update: Dislocated Finger Rules Australia Star Out Of WTC Final 2025 Against South Africa
In a gripping Day 3 of the World Test Championship Final 2025 at Lord's, Steve Smith's brave 66-run knock was quickly overshadowed by a gut-wrenching moment that could have serious implications for Australia's title hopes. The veteran batter and vice-captain dislocated his right little finger while attempting a sharp catch in the slips — a painful blow both physically and strategically for the Aussies. Also Read: Meet Aiden Markram's Wife – Everything to Know About Nicole Daniella O'Connor, Jewellery Brand Owner & Lifestyle Icon Smith, fielding close-in with a helmet on, dropped a critical catch offered by South African skipper Temba Bavuma, off Mitchell Starc's delivery. What made matters worse was the immediate aftermath — Smith clutched his finger in agony, visibly shaken, with reports later revealing that the bone had pierced through the skin, indicating a compound dislocation. Smith Taken to Hospital for X-Rays: Cricket Australia Confirms Injury Shortly after the incident, Cricket Australia issued a statement confirming the extent of the injury. 'Steve Smith has suffered a compound dislocation of his right little finger while fielding in the slip cordon during the ICC World Test Championship Final against South Africa at Lord's. He has been taken to hospital for X-rays and further treatment,' the statement read. Smith has been ruled out for the remainder of the match, dealing a heavy blow to Australia, who are trying to defend a modest second-innings lead. His absence from the field could potentially swing the match in South Africa's favour, especially with Bavuma being handed a second life. Match Situation: Proteas Closing in on Historic Win With a target of 282 runs, South Africa reached 72/2 at the time of the incident. Bavuma's reprieve, courtesy of Smith's drop, could prove to be a turning point in what has been a tightly-contested final. Australia managed only 212 in their first innings despite Smith's half-century, while South Africa posted a strong reply before the Aussies clawed back with some key wickets in the second innings. However, with 78 runs left to chase, the Proteas are now inching closer to a historic win at the Home of Cricket. Expert Reactions: Ian Smith and Others Weigh In Veteran broadcaster Ian Smith, commentating live, provided a grim update: 'It's a compound dislocation. You could see the pain etched across his face. This not only hurts them physically but mentally too — he's a pillar of this side.' Australian teammates looked stunned as Smith walked off flanked by the team doctor and physio. According to The Daily Telegraph, Smith reportedly dry-heaved at the sight of his finger, which was visibly misaligned and bleeding. Hope for Recovery: West Indies Series Still Possible Despite the severity of the injury, early signs point to no immediate need for surgery, which offers a ray of hope for Australian fans. Smith's wound has been stitched up, and he is expected to undergo further scans to assess ligament and tendon damage. If healing progresses well, Smith may be available for the upcoming Australia vs West Indies Test and T20I series, but the final call will depend on his recovery timeline and hand functionality in the coming weeks.
Indian Express
44 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Today South Africa expected to buck trend, snub fairytale-spoilers Australia
For once, Australia might not be able to stop a charming fairy tale from unfolding. This one is about a diminutive black cricketer from the township helping South Africa take a giant leap in the post-apartheid era. At Lord's on Saturday, the team with a history of spoiling many parties and pouring water on planned victory parades could well be dealing with the trauma they regularly inflict on their rivals. On Day 3 of the World Test Championship final, South Africa will be on the cusp of a famous win and the Aussies are very likely to end up as the world's most popular runners-up ever. South Africa, just two wickets down, needs 69 runs to be the second team this century to beat the mighty Aussies in an ICC final. And cheering the overnight unbeaten batsmen – opener Aiden Markram (102) and skipper Temba Bavuma (65) – to go past the target will be a host of jilted international cricketers and their army of traumatized fans, living with the painful memory of watching the Aussies walk away with silverware which they would think was within their grasp. What Germany is to football, Australia is to cricket. Puskas's Hungary, Cruyff's Total Footballers, England's golden generation, Maradona and Messi's Argentina, South Korea and Brazil at home – the world has often wondered how generations of German footballers are born with the knack of adding anti-climatic twists to perfectly flowing Cinderella tales. Akram's Pakistan, Ganguly and Rohit's India, Jayawardene's Sri Lanka, McCullum's New Zealand – to name a few – the Aussies too rarely missed the chance to prick those beautifully floating bubbles over the cricketing skies. The mighty cricketing nation is reputed to write its own scripts where the hare overruns the tortoise and Goliath pins down David. Giving credit where it is due, the famous Aussie consistency, like the fabled German efficiency, is single-handedly responsible for denying the sport many feel-good bedtime stories in different languages and dialects. This time it seems, fingers crossed, they have failed to make the sporting literature poorer. In years to come, kids in South African townships will be told the story of their country's first-ever full-time black captain Bavuma, whose name, in his native Xhosa, means Hope. It can't be anybody but a soothsayer who came up with such an apt name for the 5'4″ cricketing super hero. For a nation still dealing with apartheid era trauma, Temba returning home with its first major ICC trophy would mean so much to so many. A well-balanced mixed team, with no overwhelming intrigue around it, would have delighted the founding fathers of the born-again post-apartheid era South Africa. The sight of Markram and Bavuma – a white former captain and a black present skipper – guiding the team through a tricky chase would have gladdened the divided society used to hearing whispers of racial tensions in the sporting arena. Bavuma's men, in case they win this one, would have done more for the country's two big goals – inclusivity and reconciliation – than what most government initiatives could take years or decades. A title triumph in the game's toughest format would have sky-rocketed the ambitions of the young cricketers growing up in Langa, the black township near Cape Town where Bavuma grew. Not too far back, this used to be a ghetto with non-existent basic amenities. After Nelson Mandela's release from prison in 1990 and the subsequent multi-racial election in 1994, Langa saw change. The erstwhile marginalised space with match-box mud huts now has high-rise buildings with satellite discs perched on most balconies. Langa hasn't forgotten its past but it has certainly moved on. At the exact place where 69 black anti-apartheid protesters were killed by police bullets in 1960 is the Sharpeville massacre memorial. During a visit to Langa during India's 2018 tour to South Africa, one could feel the reverence among the locals for the martyrs and an optimism about the new life they gifted them. But Langa was bitter about the outside world's attitude towards their cricket and cricketers. That was the time, Bavuma had been dropped for the India Test in his own backyard – Newlands, Cape Town. Among those at the stadium disappointed by the playing XI selection was Cagew Ezra. He was 65 but looked barely 50. He had been tasked by the Western Province Cricket to develop cricket in black townships. Unofficially, he had kept an eye on Langa's bright young cricketers for ages. He was at the non-striker end, when Bavuma, just 13, came up with his coming-of-age match-winning knock for Langa CC. That day Ezra, a Black, knew Bavuma was special and he would take him under his wings. Passing cricketing wisdom to the next generation happens to be the age-old Langa tradition that Bavuma benefitted from. These timely tutorials by multiple experts shooting the breeze around Langa would make Bavuma change opinions and perceptions in South Africa. He would go on to prove that Black cricketers didn't take up the sport just to bowl at white and coloured players. Bavuma showed that players from townships can bat too. He would become the first black cricketer to score a Test hundred for South Africa. 'Temba is a big role model because every kid feels that I will get there one day,' Ezra would say. Bavuma's big test as a leader came up in the 2021 World T20 tournament where his close friend Quinton de Kock didn't take the knee, the symbolic support for the Black Lives Matter movement. This was a ticking time-bomb, a PR disaster waiting to happen. The world called de Kock's stand insensitive, but Bavuma didn't rush to pass judgement nor was he tongue-tied. 'My beliefs, the way that I see things, is shaped by my own experience and background, and so is the other person's. If there is a disagreement in terms of beliefs, in terms of views, that's why we have those hard conversations. Through those conversations, we will be able to get the comfort to accept the other person's decision. I can't force anyone to see things the way I do, neither can they force me to,' he would say. That day Bavuma rose in stature, from a shrewd captain he became a statesman. What he lacked to be hailed as a true leader was a Cup. On Saturday, he could tick that box too. Fingers crossed, this story is too good to have a tragic end.
India Today
3 hours ago
- India Today
WTC Final: Matthew Hayden, Dale Steyn slam Australia's tactics on Day 3
Former cricketers Matthew Hayden and Dale Steyn were puzzled by Australia's defensive mindset on Day 3 of the World Test Championship Final against South Africa. From having the game in their hands after Mitchell Starc's heroic effort with the bat, the defending champions let it slip away after failing to pick up a single wicket in the final session of Bavuma and Aiden Markram dominated the proceedings with a 143-run partnership, bringing South Africa on the cusp of history. The unbeaten partnership helped South Africa reach within 69 runs of the winning total, which stood at a massive 282 runs at the start of the final wickets fell on the first two days of the Test match at Lord's. Australia were able to dismiss opener Ryan Rickelton on Friday and then were able to brave a short Wiaan Mulder storm at No. 3. However, after the dismissal of Mulder, Australia went back into their shell and waited for either Bavuma or Markram to make a mistake. There were two catching opportunities against Bavuma on Friday, but Australia were not able to grab hold of a single one of WTC Final, SA vs AUS, Day 3: Match Report | HighlightsOnce Bavuma and Markram started hitting runs, Cummins pulled back his fielders from catching positions and posted several of them in deep areas to stop boundaries. This made life easy for Bavuma and Markram, who ticked away with singles and doubles throughout the day."You know, this defensive effort here from Australia, it was all about how they were going to take wickets and how they were going to do that early," Matthew Hayden said after the day's play on Friday."You know, when they got through to Mulder, they got through Rickelton, and they had to put at that point pressure on Bavuma. They had to put those catching cover areas, had to be less defensive, more attacking. Can you imagine if those first couple of balls had been chipped up? South Africa now it's three down. Australia got control of the match. So for me, that was a trick," he added."The drifting of the nature of the game just allowed the rotation of strike, allowed that partnership to grow and build in confidence, and it just got away from the Australian bowling lineup. Yes, it's flat conditions, but you must take 10 wickets to defend the World Test Championship. You must take the top three out of play," concluded the former Australia Catching FieldersadvertisementDale Steyn was also surprised with Australia's tactics, and said that they should have had catching positions on a pitch where the ball was not even travelling to the slips."Yeah, a little bit surprised, I think. You know, you have to adapt with the flow of the game, and obviously today, we've seen the ball has been keeping really low, it hasn't really managed to make it to the slips, even from yesterday. And, you know, whenever we used to play, I would play a place like India, your short cover, short midwicket, it doesn't matter. They're as good as cordon slips in South Africa or Australia or something like that. So on days like this, when the ball is not travelling and it's not making its way to the slips, you have to have those guys in those kinds of catching positions," Steyn added to Hayden's will come out on Day 4 of the Test match with 69 runs in hand. Assistant coach Daniel Vettori roared at the end of the day, stating that it was just a matter of one wicket for the side to make inroads into the Protean batting Watch
