Latest news with #WTC25Final
Int'l Cricket Council
21-07-2025
- Sport
- Int'l Cricket Council
ECB awarded hosting rights for the next three WTC Finals ICC World Test Championship
ECB will host the next three World Test Championship Finals following the successful hosting of the 2021, 2023 and most recent 2025 final. The first three editions of the WTC Final were held at different venues in England, with Lord's hosting the 2025 final where South Africa beat Australia by five wickets last month. South Africa beat Australia to seize the Ultimate Test | Full Match Highlights | WTC25 Final Watch the full match highlights as Aiden Markram and Kagiso Rabada led the way as South Africa bested the defending champions Australia to clinch the World Test Championship mace at Lord's. The decision was confirmed at the ICC's annual conference in Singapore this week and means the ECB will host the 2027, 2029 and 2031 finals following a successful track record in hosting recent finals. NewsICC World Test ChampionshipICC World Test Championship, 2025/27
Int'l Cricket Council
06-07-2025
- Sport
- Int'l Cricket Council
West Indies positive despite Smith's brilliance
Already 1-0 ahead in the series, Australia's advantage in the West Indies Test series was furthered when they extended their lead to 254 runs on Day Three of the St George's Test. On a surface of variable bounce, Steve Smith stood class apart hitting an excellent 71 off 119 balls. 'He's one of the best batters in the world for a reason, but we always knew that he was going to come and he was always going to be positive,' West Indies all-rounder Justin Greaves told reporters after the day's play. 'We didn't start our best at him, but Steve is Steve, he just at a really good innings.' Giving good support to Smith was Australia's number three Cameron Green who overcame indifferent recent form (48 runs from five innings) to score a fighting 52. 'I don't think I ever felt comfortable out there,' The Australian told the reporters. 'I think last night was tricky with the new ball, and had to start all over again, and then there were a few ball changes. I never really felt at any point that it was that good.' Green, however, lauded Smith with whom he shared a 93-run partnership. 'You'd probably ask a different question to Steve, he was batting on a different wicket.' Webster, Smith half-centuries help keep Australia afloat | Innings Highlights | WTC25 Final Beau Webster and Steve Smith top-scored for Australia as Kagiso Rabada inspired the Proteas to bundle them out on Day 1 of the ICC World Test Championship Final. When questioned about how West Indies would approach the Test, Greaves stated that despite the Green-Smith vigil, the hosts remained positive. 'For us try and keep Australia under 300 (on Day 4), that is one of our main goals.' On their batting approach for the chase, Greaves hoped that the West Indies batters could follow a methodology similar to Australia's middle-order batters. 'As a batting group we need to be positive when we go out to bat. Probably take some notes from Travis Head, Beau Webster or Alex Carey on just having that positive mindset.'
Int'l Cricket Council
02-07-2025
- Sport
- Int'l Cricket Council
Australia set for massive boost as West Indies alter plans ICC World Test Championship
Australia look likely to be boosted by the return of star batter Steve Smith for the second ICC World Test Championship contest against the West Indies in Grenada. Smith batted with little discomfort on his injured finger at training in the Caribbean on Tuesday and the 36-year-old is set to return to Australia's XI as they attempt to wrap up the Test series against the West Indies with victory in the second Test that commences at the National Cricket Stadium on Thursday. Steve Smith forced off the field injured | WTC25 Final Australia talisman Steve Smith sustained a nasty blow on Day 3 at Lord's and walked off the field in discomfort. Australia wicket-keeper Alex Carey spoke with reporters prior to training and said Smith had done everything expected of him as he tries to return from the injury he picked up during the World Test Championship Final against South Africa last month. '(He's a) class player. Think anytime you add 10,000 runs back into the line-up, you're going to be pretty happy with it. So we'll wait and see,' Carey said of Smith. 'Obviously, he's having a hit out here. He seems pretty confident and he's excited to get back in. But also, it's been tough at the top of the order, so to add I guess a little bit more experience is good for the group, but I think they're doing a pretty good job as well.' Alex Carey's vital 43 for Australia | Player Highlights | WTC25 Final Australia wicket-keeper/batter Alex Carey makes a valuable contribution for his side in the Ultimate Test. With Smith expected to return to his preferred batting position at No.4, it means back-up batter Josh Inglis is likely to make way in what will be Australia's only change to the side that won the opening Test of the series by 159 runs. The West Indies strong bowling line-up managed to cause plenty of problems for Australia during that opening Test, though coach Daren Sammy knows the likely return of Smith to the XI will pose a different proposition for his front-line pacers. "He (Smith) is a quality guy and a quality player," Sammy said. "Australia is still strong (without him) because of the system they have. They keep on producing guys. But we've seen when we add pressure as a bowling group, we did get 20 wickets in the Test and that's the first step towards winning. Steve Smith, if he comes in, poses a different challenge to us." Steve Smith's fighting fifty for Australia | Player Highlights | WTC25 Final On a tricky Day 1 at Lord's, Steve Smith buckled down with a gritty half century. Sammy took plenty of positives from the West Indies' performance in the opening Tet in Barbados, but knows the side needs to improve their efforts in the field if they want to mix it with the Aussies. "I think the biggest thing is we shot ourselves in the foot (during the first Test)," Sammy said. "You cannot drop seven catches against the world's No.1 team and expect to compete. We have a lot of blame to take for the defeat, but there were also some positives…for the first two days, we were (going) head and shoulders against the No.1 team." ICC World Test ChampionshipNewsSteve Smith
Int'l Cricket Council
28-06-2025
- Sport
- Int'l Cricket Council
Cummins hails match-winners as Australia get going in WTC27 ICC World Test Championship
In a match that ebbed and flowed, it was Australia who emerged victorious against West Indies in the opening Test of the three-match series in Bridgetown. While the win may not erase the heartbreak of Lord's just two weeks ago, it marks a positive start to their World Test Championship 2025-27 cycle, with their first points now on the board. There was little to separate the sides after the first two innings – just 10 runs, in fact. Jayden Seales' five-wicket haul helped bowl Australia out for 180, before a disciplined all-round effort from the Australian bowlers restricted West Indies to 190, giving the hosts a slender lead. Australia found themselves in trouble at 65/4 after another top-order collapse, but the middle-order trio of Travis Head, Beau Webster and Alex Carey steadied the ship with crucial half-centuries. Head and Webster put together a 102-run stand, with Head playing the aggressor. After Head's dismissal, Carey took charge, highlighted by two brilliant straight sixes off Seales and Justin Greaves. "I thought those three were brilliant," Australia skipper Pat Cummins said at the post-match press conference. "They kept the scoreboard ticking over. I thought they took really good options. They were always looking to score. 'Really, that was the difference. [You are] turning up today thinking that if we didn't get a big lead it was 50-50, really. Those guys took the game away from West Indies." Cummins was particularly impressed by Beau Webster, who, despite having played just five Tests, has already built a reputation for digging Australia out of tough spots with grit and composure on challenging surfaces. On debut against India, the 31-year-old made an instant impact, scoring a half-century on a spicy Sydney pitch in the first innings and following it up with a brisk unbeaten 39 in their victorious chase. In the World Test Championship Final against South Africa, Webster stood tall with a counter-attacking 72 off 92 balls, the top score in Australia's first-innings total of 212. Against West Indies, he once again proved pivotal, anchoring two key partnerships in the second innings with a composed 63 off 120 balls that turned the tide in Australia's favour. He also made an impact with the ball, claiming two wickets in the first innings. Beau Webster helps Australia's cause with half-century | Player Highlights | WTC25 Final Beau Webster marked his first Lord's Test with a half century in the World Test Championship Final. "I think it's pretty much the same as what he does for Tasmania," Cummins said on Webster. "He seems to always contribute in some way. He's kind of knocked down the door with his performances over the years in Shield cricket. It's great when you've got someone like that coming to the team. 'They know their craft so well and you saw that today, even on a tricky wicket, he knew where his areas to score were. He's been a fantastic asset to the team over the last six months." After setting West Indies a target of 301, Australia needed just one session and under 34 overs to seal the win, dismantling the hosts for 141. Leading the charge was the ever-reliable Josh Hazlewood, who delivered a brilliant five-wicket haul to cap off the dominant performance. Hazlewood cleans up Stubbs with a jaffa | WTC25 Final Josh Hazlewood also got himself among the wickets by nipping one in to get rid of Tristan Stubbs. 'Give Josh a wicket with any little bit in it, and he finds it,' Cummins added on his pace bowling partner Hazlewood. 'Just hits the right area, ball after ball, presents good seam. I thought he was great at Lord's as well last week, without perhaps the returns that he was deserved. 'It's a huge asset to have him on our side as well. He's been keeping Scotty Boland out of the side and we know how good Scotty is. Really pumped for Josh this week.' The series now moves to St George's for the second Test, which gets underway on 3 July. ICC World Test ChampionshipNewsAustraliaWest Indies
Int'l Cricket Council
26-06-2025
- Sport
- Int'l Cricket Council
Four uncapped players in Proteas squad for tri-series
Rassie van der Dussen, who has 50 T20I caps, will take charge of the South Africa squad that features four uncapped players for the upcoming shortest-format outings. Corbin Bosch, Lhuan-dré Pretorius, Rubin Hermann and Senuran Muthusamy have all received maiden call-ups after strong domestic performances. Pretorius was the standout performer in the 2025 edition of the SA20, finishing as the leading run-scorer with 397 runs at a strike rate of 166. South Africa squad: Rassie van der Dussen (C), Corbin Bosch, Dewald Brevis, Nandre Burger, Gerald Coetzee, Reeza Hendricks, Rubin Hermann, George Linde, Kwena Maphaka, Senuran Muthusamy, Lungi Ngidi, Nqaba Peter, Lhuan-dré Pretorius, Andile Simelane Best of Rassie van der Dussen | CWC23 Wicket-keeper-batter Rubin Hermann was also impressive, scoring 333 runs at an average of 41.43. Bosch, who has already featured for the Proteas in ODIs and Tests, played a key role in MI Cape Town's title win in the SA20 earlier this year, while Muthusamy adds to South Africa's depth as a spin-bowling all-rounder. The squad also features the return of Dewald Brevis, fast bowlers Nandre Burger and Gerald Coetzee following their respective injury layoffs. The trio bolsters a strong bowling unit that also includes Lungi Ngidi, who was part of the ICC World Test Championship Final 2025 triumph and emerging pacer Kwena Maphaka. Head coach Shukri Conrad, who takes charge of his first T20I assignment since being appointed to the all-format role, said the series marks the beginning of South Africa's preparations for the 2026 ICC Men's T20 World Cup. South Africa beat Australia to seize the Ultimate Test | Full Match Highlights | WTC25 Final Watch the full match highlights as Aiden Markram and Kagiso Rabada led the way as South Africa bested the defending champions Australia to clinch the World Test Championship mace at Lord's. 'With several senior players rested as part of their workload management, it creates opportunities for others to step in and show what they can offer,' said Conrad. 'This is a chance for us to build depth and see how these players cope with international demands.' The squad will assemble in Pretoria on 9 July for a two-day preparatory camp before departing for Harare on 11 July. The tri-series begins with South Africa facing hosts Zimbabwe on 14 July. Tri-series fixtures: July 14 - Zimbabwe v South Africa July 16 - South Africa v New Zealand July 18 - Zimbabwe v New Zealand July 20 - Zimbabwe v South Africa July 22 - New Zealand v South Africa July 24 - Zimbabwe v New Zealand July 26 - Final * All games will be played at the Harare Sports Club.
