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News.com.au
17 hours ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
World Test Championship final 2025: How Australia, South Africa qualified
Australia will play South Africa in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final at Lord's, striving to defend the title it won two years ago when it defeated India. But first — how did we get here? Let's look back at Australia's run to the decider that will crown the best Test nation on the planet. The Aussies' road to the final began in June 2023, spanning six Test series and ending with an away series victory over Sri Lanka in February. Their journey, under coach Andrew McDonald, was full of highs and devastating lows and, at times, marred with controversy. The Ashes England v Australia (June – July 2023) Australia's campaign got off to a blockbuster start with the Ashes in England, a seesawing affair that finished in a 2-2 draw. It was a series that will long live in Ashes memory, not for the result but for the controversy that lived up to the centuries-old rivalry. After racing to a 2-0 lead it looked like Australia were poised to win their first series on English soil since 2001. But the lead came at a cost. Nathan Lyon went down in the second Test with a calf injury and missed the remainder of the series. Buoyed by its Bazball aggression, England roared back, levelling the series 2-2 in a gripping finale during which Stuart Broad took the last two wickets in his final Test match. But it was Alex Carey's stumping of Jonny Bairstow that will be remembered most. The incident triggered a maelstrom of debate about the 'spirit of the game' and some heated scenes in the Lord's Long Room during the lunch break. Benaud-Qadir Trophy Australia v Pakistan (December 2023 – January 2024) Next up for Australia was Pakistan in the second edition of the Benaud-Qadir Trophy. Named after two prolific spin bowlers (Abdul Qadir of Pakistan and Australia's Richie Benaud), it was a fitting stage for one of the greatest spinners to return from injury and leave his mark in the history books. Before Lyon stole the show, it was David Warner's time to shine in his farewell tour. The veteran opener set the tone for what would be a dominant 3-0 series sweep, smashing 164 off 211 in a vintage knock. But it was Lyon joining an echelon of bowling greats that was the highlight of the summer. An overturned LBW review delivered the Aussie his 500th Test wicket, and he became the third Australian behind Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath to reach the rare milestone. Frank Worrell Trophy Australia v West Indies (January 2024) After a one-sided victory against Pakistan, Australia looked set for another dominant series following a commanding ten wicket win in the opening Test against the West Indies. What followed shocked the cricket world. The Frank Worrell Trophy was never supposed to be close. The Caribbean cricket nation hadn't beaten Australia in a Test since 2003. And a series win? You'd have to go back all the way to 1992-93. But with an energetic young bowler leading the charge, history had other ideas. Playing in just his second Test, Shamar Joseph tore through Australia with a staggering 7/68 – including the victory-sealing thunderbolt that cleaned up Hazlewood's off-stump to send the visitors into raptures of celebration. The famous win ended a 27-year drought on Australian soil and levelled the series 1-1. The win was even more remarkable given Australia's dominance in the first Test. Hazlewood took nine wickets, Head was in one of his moods and it was all wrapped up on the third morning. Despite still retaining the Frank Worrell trophy with the draw, it was a bad loss for Australia – and they had dropped critical WTC points with tougher opponents ahead. Trans-Tasman Trophy New Zealand v Australia (February – March 2024) After their shock loss to the West Indies, Australia were determined to show it was still the best in the world. And what better way to show that than to re-establish your dominance over Tasman rivals. New Zealand's last series win was in 1989-90, and Australia weren't about to end that streak. Cameron Green blasted an unbeaten 174 and the Kiwis looked in all sorts facing a rampaging Aussie attack in their first contest. A top order collapse from the Aussies gave their opposition a sniff in the following match, but the class of Mitchell Marsh and Carey's 140-run sixth wicket stand steered them to a series sweep. Border-Gavaskar Trophy Australia v India (November 2024 – January 2025) An unproven batting line-up and India's recent dominance set the stage for a hugely-anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy. And it didn't disappoint, with captivating debuts, Bumrah brilliance, and fiery on-field exchanges, it was Test cricket at its best. It was a brutal start for Australia — a Jasprit Bumrah masterclass fit for the best bowler on the planet tore through their top-order. Desperate to turn around a 295-run loss, it was Head who provided the fuel that lit a fire through the whole team. His rapid-fire century (140 off 141) was the catalyst Australia desperately needed. A draw at the Gabba set up a blockbuster Boxing Day Test, where a new name entered the global cricket stratosphere. Opening the batting on debut. In front of 87,242 people at the MCG. Facing the world's most feared bowler. Most would falter. But Sam Konstas didn't blink. Fearless, captivating and electrifying – the 19-year-old's ramp-heavy innings provided edge-of-your-seat entertainment worthy of a box-office blockbuster. While only brief, it turned an unknown teen into a national sensation, and Australia rode that momentum to a resounding 184-run win, before icing the series in Sydney. By lifting the Border-Gavaskar Trophy for the first time in a decade with a 3-1 win, Australia had stared down adversity and smashed it for six. Warne-Muralitharan Trophy Sri Lanka v Australia (January – February 2025) Australia's recent Test form had been almost flawless, but with a WTC final on the line, would the trickier conditions of subcontinent cricket trip them up? The answer: a resounding no. Australia didn't just beat Sri Lanka twice — it steamrolled them. And if Smith wasn't already considered one of the best batsmen ever, his form in Sri Lanka would have changed some stubborn minds. The hosts' demoralising defeats began with a spectacular Usman Khawaja performance, the opener bringing up his maiden double century. But it was the summer of Smith as Australia stampeded to a win by an innings and 242 runs, followed by nine-wicket victory. Following on from his twin tons against India, Smith reached another two centuries, bringing his career tally to an incredible 36. It was a significant moment for Australian cricket on the first day of the series as Smith scored his 10,000th Test run, cementing himself as one of the best to ever hold a Willow bat. South Africa's journey It's been a successful few years for South African cricket, the Proteas finishing on top of the standings after winning four of six Test series. After beginning slowly with a drawn series against India and a 0-2 defeat to New Zealand, South Africa quickly gained momentum. They won the next four series without dropping a match, defeating West Indies, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan on the way to the WTC decider.
ABC News
a day ago
- Sport
- ABC News
Australia's Travis Head praises "optional" training ahead of World Test Championship final
Star batter Travis Head has opened up on how Australia's different approach to training has helped set up an era of success. Australia is aiming for back-to-back World Test Championship titles when it faces South Africa at Lord's in the decider. Since 2021, Australia has collected three ICC trophies — the ODI and T20 World Cups, and the second edition of the WTC in 2023. Despite having limited time to prepare for the one-off Test with the Proteas — Australia's first red-ball match since February — Head is confident the XI will be ready to hit the ground running. "Gone are the days of an optional session that wasn't optional," Head said. "It was optional if you wanted, but naughty if you didn't. "So it was the optional 'yes' session. "It was the optional 'must be there'. "We're in a great environment now where we're backed to be able to prepare how we want, and come in at different drop points." Head has thrived since Andrew McDonald became head coach in 2022, taking over after Justin Langer's messy exit from the job following the 4-0 Ashes win in Australia. Follow every ball of the World Test Championship final with the ABC Sport live blog, and the live commentary between Australia and South Africa at Lord's. The aggressive left-hander has become one of world cricket's best big game players. He starred with a player-of-the-match performance when Australia defeated India in the 2023 WTC final at The Oval, smashing a game-changing 163. Head proved it was no fluke only months later when he inspired Australia to a memorable upset of India at a hostile Ahmedabad in the 2023 ODI World Cup final. "I feel like we've been in so many big games," Head said. "I have pride in the way I play, and I want to contribute every time I play. "I put pressure on myself no matter, regardless of the situation or what kind of game I play in. "So good things, bad things. "I don't see it any bigger this week than what's to come. "If you look at it through that lens, what's the worst that can happen? "Playing a final at Lords, it's a cool thing to be involved in." After opening with Usman Khawaja for Australia's two Tests in Sri Lanka, Head will move back to No.5 against the Proteas. Marnus Labuschagne is expected to move up from No.3 to open with Khawaja, with fit-again Cameron Green to bat in the top-three. Captain Pat Cummins is expected to confirm Australia's XI when he conducts his pre-match press conference at Lord's on Tuesday. AAP
Int'l Cricket Council
3 days ago
- Sport
- Int'l Cricket Council
Hazlewood pushes selection case for World Test Championship Final
The right-armer looked in good touch in Beckenham on Saturday at an optional training session for the Aussies, with head coach Andrew McDonald and selector Tony Dodemaide keeping a close eye on proceedings as Hazlewood battles with fellow seamer Scott Boland for a spot in the playing XI. Hazlewood unsurprisingly hit his usual line and length quickly when bowling to Australian teammate Marnus Labuschagne and the 34-year-old said he would increase his pace over the coming days in the lead-up to the clash with South Africa in north London. "Today is sort of, post-flight and just to get moving," Hazlewood said prior to training. "I will probably nail down a few more overs tomorrow and then over the next few days, tick a lot of boxes. "I ticked over some good overs just before the (IPL) Final in Ahmedabad in different weather than this and it was quite a tough session. "And then obviously, every time you play a game in the IPL, you're probably going to get almost seven or eight overs in, if you really want to. So in and around with warm-ups and obviously the four overs in the game. And we bowled second a lot of the time in IPL, so that was sort of two warm-ups, so you can squeeze in overs here and there and things are going pretty well."
Int'l Cricket Council
02-06-2025
- Sport
- Int'l Cricket Council
ICC World Test Championship – The story so far
The third instalment of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) is set to come to a thrilling conclusion as defending champions Australia take on South Africa at Lord's in the final, which begins on 11 June. The Proteas finished top of the league table during the 2023-25 WTC cycle having won 69.44 per cent of the points on offer to them during the six series they contested - winning eight of their 12 Test matches, drawing one and losing three. Meanwhile, Andrew McDonald's side finished second with 67.54per cent of points won and were the only nation to go unbeaten across the six series they were part of. Australia won 13 of their 19 Tests, drawing two, losing four and having 10 points deducted for a slow over-rate infringement, to book their place in the final as they bid to retain a trophy they lifted for the first time in 2023. With the next showpiece looming into view, we look back at the story of the competition so far. The idea The motivation behind the introduction of the ICC World Test Championship was to add context to bilateral Test cricket. With every game during a series worth points in the final standings, all matches therefore have something riding on them, even if a Test match is a 'dead rubber' in terms of the series it is a part of. By creating a dedicated Test cricket competition, the WTC honours the importance of the longest form of the game and ensures a pinnacle event for the format – just as the World Cups are for men and women in the ODI and T20I formats. Format The top nine teams in the ICC Men's Test Team Rankings take part in the WTC. Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka and the West Indies have all been ever-present in the WTC and they will all feature in the upcoming 2025-27 cycle too. All nine countries participating play three home and three away series over a two-year period, with the opponents decided by mutual agreement, often within existing frameworks of Member rights agreements. The number of matches in each series can differ between a minimum of two matches to a maximum of five. Since the 2021-23 WTC, each Test match contested has been worth 12 points, with the winner taking home all of them, a tie earning each team six points, a draw giving both sides four points and a loss resulting in no points. Points can be deducted for slow over rates. The league table is based upon the percentage of points won by each team, with the top two teams in the standings progressing to the final. The launch A competition to decide the world's best Test team had long been mooted, with the West Indies legend Clive Lloyd suggesting the idea back in 1996. Further talks took place between relevant stakeholders throughout the 2010s and after many years of careful discussions – which considered matters such as the international calendar, other ICC tournaments and existing commitments to broadcasters and sponsors - and meticulous preparations, it was announced on 29 July 2019 that the first WTC would take place over the next two years, with that summer's Ashes series acting as the competition's curtain raiser. During the launch, England's all-time leading Test wicket taker James Anderson said: 'Test cricket is the pinnacle of our sport. It is the very essence of cricket, and the majority of players want to strive to play the purest form of the game. 'The ICC World Test Championship is another brilliant initiative for the sport, adding context and relevance to every Test series. Every Test matters, but even more so now.' Previous finals New Zealand triumphed in the inaugural showpiece of the World Test Championship in 2021 at the Rose Bowl. The BLACKCAPS travelled to Southampton to take on India and won the rain-affected contest by eight wickets – with the reserve day being required due to a washed-out opening day. After bowling India out for 217, with Kyle Jamieson the pick of the bowlers with five for 31, New Zealand responded with 249 in their first innings. Facing a deficit of 32 runs, India could only muster 170 in their second innings leaving Kane Williamson and his men needing 139 for victory. The captain was there unbeaten on 52 alongside Ross Taylor, who hit the winning runs to deliver New Zealand's men, their first ICC tournament win since 2000. Speaking post-match, Williamson said: 'It is the pinnacle, being involved in the final. 'For us it is a very proud moment in our history and a proud moment, just as a team, to stick to what we do well and come away with the win, which is a really great feeling." Two years later, it was Australia who took the spoils at The Oval. They beat India by 209 runs, and in doing so, became the first men's team to win every ICC competition on offer to them. Travis Head starred with the bat – hitting a notable 163 – to help his side compile 469 in their first innings. India responded with 296 and, after Australia's second innings effort of 270 for eight declared, were faced with a target of 444 for victory. Rohit Sharma's side could only make 234 as Australia added another major ICC trophy to their cabinet. 'Everyone played really well, and we will savour this for a few days,' said captain Pat Cummins after the match. 'This is our favourite format; we grew up watching Test cricket. It challenges you. When you win, it is the format you get most satisfaction with.' With two enthralling finals already part of the WTC's burgeoning history, all eyes will be on Lord's as the next chapter is set to be written in north London.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
‘Muddled mess': Key factor in Marnus' fate
Australian coach Andrew McDonald says a decision on playing an all-rounder in the World Test Championship final will determine if one of Sam Konstas or Marnus Labuschagne misses out as selectors weigh up doing something 'we've never done before' at Lord's and promote Labuschagne to opener. McDonald was adamant the 'muddled mess' leading into the game, including players fleeing India after the IPL was delayed by a fleeting military incident, won't impede preparations for the clash with South Africa. About to fly to the team camp in the UK at an 'undisclosed location', McDonald said selectors had a preferred starting XI mapped out but with 'multiple names in different positions'. He said Labuschagne opening with Usman Khawaja 'had been discussed' amid concern making such a major move in a big game could 'unsettle the team'. But McDonald also flagged that resurgent Cameron Green, coming off three county cricket centuries, could also bat at the top of the order, with final decisions to be made as close to three days before the June 11 start. 'He could bat anywhere,' McDonald said of Green, not hiding his excitement at the boom batter's brilliant return from career-saving back surgery. 'He could be three, he could be five, he could be six, he could open. 'I think he's got the temperament, the skillset, the defensive play as well. The higher up you go defensive skills are a priority, and he's got all bases covered. He plays the short ball well. 'You're not going to get a negative word from the coach about Cameron Green.' McDonald said bedding down an opening combination to take the team forward was a priority after 'moving parts' through the series against India and then Sri Lanka 'weren't ideal'. Konstas lost his spot in Sri Lanka, and could yet keep Labuschagne, who made 27 runs in three middling county cricket innings for Glamorgan, out of the side, pending the need to pick all-rounder Beau Webster to boost the bowling stocks at Lord's with Green still unable to bowl. McDonald said Konstas, who was part of the team camp in Brisbane, had made some technical changes after a poor end to the domestic season, adamant his 'journey' would end with him being a much better player. 'There's an 11 on a board but it has dashes with multiple names in different positions,' McDonald said on SEN. 'As we put the squad together the first part is to have a 15, to give yourself all options. 'Do we need to play the all-rounder That will then shuffle batting positions. We are quite flexible in our approach to that. 'It will depend on the all-rounder. If you need the all-rounder in the conditions, that would then lend itself to a decision around the top order. It will be how much we prioritise the bowling element. 'We've got roughly what we think it might look like, then there will be some decisions when we get to the pointy end. We'll try to give clarity to the players the closer we get.' McDonald also confirmed that only one of Josh Hazlewood, who has returned to India to play in the IPL finals, or Scott Boland would play at Lord's. The coach said while some players coming off long lay-offs and others off T20 cricket wasn't 'perfect', it also wasn't anything new. 'We have seven days of training. It will be good to see everyone come back together … it's a muddled mess in terms of the prep,' he said. 'It always causes you unease when there is a T20 tournament right up to the start of the WTC. I'm not saying it's perfect having people all over the world, but we are well versed in preparing players remotely, having guys with us, and bringing that all together. 'This has been a two-year journey, right back to the last WTC final. This is a priority for our group, they have zeroed in on it.'
