WTC final: Australia fight back with pace on 14-wicket Day 1 after Rabada special
Test cricket reminded us once again why one should never judge a pitch before both teams have batted on it. After Australia were bundled out for just 212 on Day 1 of the World Test Championship 2025 final, questions were raised over their batting performance. Kagiso Rabada starred for South Africa with a fiery five-wicket haul. However, Australia struck back in style, giving South Africa a taste of their own medicine with a spirited bowling display on Wednesday, 11 June.advertisementOn a lively Lord's surface that offered something throughout the day — from an overcast morning to a bright evening — fast bowlers dominated proceedings as 14 wickets fell on the opening day of the high-stakes final. | WTC final SA vs AUS Day 1 Highlights |South Africa were left reeling at 43 for 4 at Stumps after Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Josh Hazlewood tore through their top order. Temba Bavuma (3*) and David Bedingham (8*) were at the crease, trying to steady the innings after a relentless assault from Australia's pace trio.
South Africa trailed Australia by 169 runs, and it might take a couple of heroic efforts from the Proteas batters to get close to the total, let alone take a lead.Skipper strikes!South Africa's woes continue and #WiannMulder's promotion up the order backfires as #PatCummins cleans him up, all ends up!LIVE NOW https://t.co/9lZGHcdMLn #WTCFinal | #SAvAUS, Day 1, watch LIVE on Star Sports 1, Star Sports 1 Hindi & JioHotstar pic.twitter.com/J9MAwDryXO— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) June 11, 2025advertisementThe conditions were not suited for free-flowing stroke play, and Ryan Rickelton's dismissal was a clear example. Early in his innings, Rickelton confidently drove Starc down the ground when the Dukes ball was still new.However, as the lacquer wore off, the ball began to swing more. In the ninth over, Rickelton attempted a similar drive to the one that had earlier fetched him a boundary. This time, though, the older ball swung away, took the outside edge, and flew to the slip cordon.Unlike the Kookaburra or SG balls, the Dukes ball tends to swing more as it ages, making it one of the most challenging for batters to handle.TIMID BATTING EFFORT FROM THE PROTEAS?It was arguably a timid effort with the bat from South Africa who batted 22 overs for 43 runs. In fact, the day ended with Beddingham, who walked in at No. 6, hitting two boundaries to lift an otherwise snail-paced scoreboard.South Africa appeared to shut shop as early as the ninth over after losing Rickelton and Aiden Markram early.Yes, South Africa were facing a world-class and all-conquering bowling attack, but none of the top-order batters, especially captain Bavuma and No. 3 Wiaan Mulder, showed the urgency in the middle. Even singles didn't come by as South Africa kept finding the fielders, visibly rattled after a terrific opening burst from Mitchell Starc.advertisement"You'd think that batting conditions would improve as the overhead conditions cleared, but that certainly wasn't the case. And I suppose the only reason I'd say maybe Australia edged it—maybe an 80% call—is because of the lack of intent from the South African batting unit," former Australia opener Matthew Hayden told JioHostar after the day's play."That really started with Temba Bavuma."When you think about his performance as captain, it's not just about field placements or bowling changes—it's also about leading from the front as a batting captain, showing vigour and intent. Of course, you're up against three world-class fast bowlers in conditions that suit them, but what Australia would have relished is the deflated tone in that South African innings," he said.Bavuma (3 off 37) and Mulder (6 off 44) added six runs for their third-wicket partnership that lasted 40 balls before Cummins removed the latter and piled up the pressure on the Proteas.Josh Hazlewood joined the pary late, getting the big wicket of Tristan Stubbs to swung the momentum in favour of Australia at the end of the day's play.advertisementIt was certainly not a day for batters at Lord's, as two high-quality bowling attacks traded punches and turned the opening day into a gripping contest.AUSTRALIA COLLAPSE AFTER SMITH, WEBSTER FIFTIESAustralia were jolted early by Kagiso Rabada after they were sent into bat on Day 1. You May Also Like
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New Indian Express
an hour ago
- New Indian Express
WTC Final: Ball dance continues on Day 2 but Oz hold upper hand
TEST cricket's biennial showpiece careened towards a sensational and lightning finish after both batting units folded in the face of some tight and accurate bowling either side of tea. Even if the scores may suggest that the pitch may come under scrutiny, the Lord's curator could escape censure. Ben Jones of CricViz posted that '... all the tracking data for this Test is normal, in some areas less movement than is typical for Lord's' (CricViz is a data solutions company who supply data to sporting bodies including ICC). The broadcaster's own graphics backed up that assertion there was nothing alarming about the average seam or swing movement over the first two days. It was just good bowling vs not so good batting. That perfect storm set-up resulted in a loss of 14 wickets in the day, including 13 after lunch on Thursday. As the players walked off the field, Australia will perhaps rightly believe they have their noses in front as they lead by 218, with two second innings wickets in hand. More than four hours earlier, at lunch, the Proteas had counterpunched their way to 5/121 after Temba Bavuma, David Bedingham and Kyle Verrreynne had showed a mix of fight and imagination. The trio added added 70 runs to get within striking distance before Pat Cummins did what he does best. Strangle the batting unit while keeping both edges as well as the stumps in play. Just as the alliance was beginning to bloom between the pair of Bavuma and Bedingham, Cummins got himself on. He did concede a six but across two spells separated by lunch, he picked up five wickets for 14 runs. There was genteel movement but that was enough to leave the batters scrambling. If it was Cummins who starred with the ball before tea to give the holders a big chance, the Proteas' all sorts pace combination got in on the act soon after to totally light the blue touchpaper and set the stage for an early finish. A lead of 74 is gold in game with low scores and it had ballooned to over a 100 as the beleaguered Marnus Labuschagne and Usman Khawaja put on 28 for the first wicket. The floodgates, though, opened in the 11th over thanks to Kagiso Rabada. He got the ball to straighten a touch and the southpaw nicked it to the keeper. Cameron Green came and went without adding to the score. An uncomfortable position turned perilous after Steve Smith missed a rather straight delivery off Lungi Ngidi. Ngidi also played a big role to play in Australia losing wickets in a cluster, a welcome return to form after a wayward first innings outing where he conceded none for 45 off just eight overs. The wickets started to tumble and the mode of dismissals was similar to the first 150 overs or so — keeping the edges in play and bringing the stumps into play with whatever deviation off the surface. Each of the next four wickets were either bowled or leg-before. When they weren't getting bowled or being trapped in front, they were getting beaten. It's why the innings Alex Carey played before being dismissed could yet be the one that gives Australia its second mace. The southpaw is known for his firefighting abilities and he once again displayed his class with a nerveless 50-ball 43. On Friday, with the weather expected to be largely clear, South Africa have the chance to do something special, a first men's ICC title this side of 2000. Can they do it? Brief scores: Australia 212 and 144/8 in 40 ovs (Carey 43, Rabada 3/44, Ngidi 3/35) vs South Africa 138 in 57.1 ovs (Bavuma 36, Bedingham 45, Cummins 6/28, Starc 2/41))
Time of India
2 hours 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
5 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
