
WTC final: What happens if Australia vs South Africa is drawn, tied or washed out?
Challengers South Africa are set to take on Australia in the final of the World Test Championship 2025. The summit clash is set to take place at the iconic Lord's stadium in London. Temba Bavuma's side are expected to pose a strong challenge to Pat Cummins' Australia, who have been in riveting form of late in the red-ball format.The Pat Cummins-led Australian side is looking to secure their second consecutive World Test Championship title, while South Africa, led by Temba Bavuma, aims to end a nearly three-decade-long drought without a major ICC trophy.advertisementSouth Africa has shown remarkable form in this cycle, topping the WTC standings thanks in part to their impressive 2-0 series win against Pakistan. This victory marked their seventh consecutive Test win, solidifying their position as a formidable force in the competition. The Proteas have been building momentum throughout the cycle, with strong performances against major teams, including a notable win over Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
The final match is set to be played from June 11 to June 15, with June 16 reserved as a reserve day. The match promises to be intense, with both teams eager to claim the ICC mace. The game is expected to be affected by rain, especially on Day 2 of the Test.Here's what will happen if the World Test Championship final is drawn or gets washed out by rain.WTC Final: Australia vs South AfricaadvertisementIn case the Australia vs South Africa final gets washed out by rain, or is drawn or tied, both teams will have to share the WTC mace. However, to reduce the possibility of a draw, the match has a reserve day in place.WTC Final: What is the use of reserve day?The International Cricket Council has kept an extra day for this Test match from the very first final of the tournament. The reserve day (Day 6) is used for finishing the remaining overs of the game, in case the result does not come after five days of the match.This was the case in the 2021 final when the first day's play was washed out in Southampton between India and New Zealand, who played the first-ever WTC final. In that match, the reserve day was used to cover for the time that had been lost.WTC Final 2025: Weather forecastIt is mostly expected to be overcast in London during the match days. However, there is a 25 per cent chance of rainfall on Day 2 of the Test match.
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The Hindu
41 minutes ago
- The Hindu
‘Flawed' Test Championship reveals world cricket's underlying problems
Reigning champions Australia face South Africa in the World Test Championship final at Lord's starting Wednesday amid a chorus of criticism over the competition's format. Wisden, cricket's 'bible', was scathing in its assessment, with editor Lawrence Booth writing in this year's edition that the WTC is a "shambles masquerading as a showpiece". Meanwhile, former England captain Michael Atherton said "everyone knows the WTC in its present guise is flawed". One fundamental problem is that political tensions mean India and Pakistan, two of cricket's leading nations, have not played a Test against each other since 2007. The nine-nation WTC is further skewed because the teams are not being required to face each other or to play the same number of matches, unlike most sports leagues. Countries are free to decide how many Tests they would like to play in the two-year qualifying cycle -- something Booth wants doubled to four years, with the top nine in the rankings all playing each other, home and away, over series that last at least three Tests. Positions are calculated on the percentage of available points won by teams. South Africa have played just 12 Tests in the current cycle -- all of them two-match series -- compared to England's 22 -- and have not played either England or Australia. South Africa also sent a third-string side to New Zealand in early 2024, and lost. It kept its best players at home to appear in its domestic T20 competition. That was a financial sign of the times, as is Cricket South Africa not scheduling any home Tests for 2025/26. 'South Africa didn't beat nobodies' South Africa reeled off six straight wins to book their place in this year's final, only for former England captain Michael Vaughan to say they had got there "on the back of beating pretty much nobody". But Proteas coach Shukri Conrad objected that South Africa had beaten teams who had beaten the 'Big Three' of India, Australia and England. "One of the nobodies we beat won a Test match in Australia -- West Indies beat Australia in a Test match. They are not nobody," insisted Conrad. "New Zealand beat India: three-zip in India. New Zealand is not a nobody. "Sri Lanka won Test matches (against England and New Zealand).I don't buy this thing about us beating nobody." Victory in the final would be a boost to South Africa following years of hurt in ICC white-ball tournaments, with Conrad saying after qualification was secured. "I'm never going to apologise for getting into the final. "It's the biggest thing in this team's existence. It's the biggest thing for South African cricket at the moment." One of those involved in devising the points system, speaking on condition of anonymity, told AFP: "It's difficult to come up with a solution where everyone is happy given the barriers to an 'orthodox' table that exist, such as the India-Pakistan situation. "Commercial considerations will also mean the 'Big Three' will want to play each other in five-Test series." He added this was just as much a choice as England incurring the over-rate penalties that hampered their chances -- they've yet to reach a WTC final despite the first three editions all taking place on home soil -- with skipper Ben Stokes almost disdainful in his assessment of an "utterly confusing" format. Yet, New Zealand's win in the inaugural 2021 World Test Championship final was welcomed as a long overdue global triumph for a popular side. Australia's failure to qualify for that match was labelled a "big missed opportunity" by skipper Pat Cummins, who made amends with victory at in an Oval final two years ago. Tthat India were beaten finalists in both the 2021 and 2023 WTC finals indicated there was still a place for the five-day game in world cricket's economic powerhouse, for all T20 events such as the Indian Premier League are the financial driving force. Indeed former India captain and batting star Virat Kohli, speaking after securing his long-awaited first IPL title following Royal Challengers Bengaluru's triumph in last Tuesday's final, said: "If you want to earn respect in world cricket all over, take up Test cricket and give your heart and soul to it." But the awkward question for cricket chiefs is whether the WTC is helping or hindering that aim.


India Gazette
an hour ago
- India Gazette
All eyes on Lyon as Smith signals spin threat in WTC25 Final
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India Gazette
an hour ago
- India Gazette
"The way he's playing has been concern...": Aaron Finch on Labuschagne's batting
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