Latest news with #WTCFinal
News18
a day ago
- General
- News18
'Smudge Will Be Batting At Number...': AUS Skipper Pat Cummins' Huge Reveal Ahead Of WTC Final
Last Updated: Much was speculated regarding Smith's fit in the batting lineup, with many suggesting that the Aussies might consider sending the talisman batter out to open the innings for them. When the stakes are high, it's best to play to your strengths. And the stakes sure don't get much higher when a World Test Championship is on the line. Well, Australia skipper Pat Cummins has followed suit, announcing that talisman batter Steve Smith will take to the crease for the side at No. 4, ahead of the World Test Championship final. Australia's upcoming World Test Championship final against South Africa is set to take place at Lord's from June 11-15. Smith, who has thrived playing at No. 4 for the Aussies in Tests, with 23 centuries and 26 fifties under his belt from the same position, was one of their saviours back in the 2023 WTC Final against India as well, where he slammed a first-innings century which set the stage for Australia to win and claim the title. Much has been speculated regarding Smith's fit in the batting lineup, with many suggesting that the men from down under might consider sending the talisman batter out to open the innings for them. In a conversation with The Grade Cricketer on Prime Video Australia, Cummins shut down all rumours and confirmed that Smith will take to the crease from the No.4 position only. 'I can confirm that Smudge will be batting at four. Everyone else, I'm not willing to confirm, but I can confirm Steve Smith will be number four," said Cummins. Australia is on the verge of becoming the first team to win back-to-back WTC titles, and Cummins spoke about the challenges of competing in the two-year championship cycle. 'After winning (in 2023), there's a lot of talk of trying to retain it. Go and defend it. It's not tangible until you actually make the final. Now that we've made it, it'll be pretty cool to win another ICC trophy." 'You've really got to be a complete team over a couple-year stretch to make the final. We just missed out on that first year (2019-2021), but I think we are a better side now than we were back then. 'I think two (WTC titles) would be incredible. One, I think, is still a pretty good demonstration of how good we've been over the past few years," he elaborated. But Cummins isn't one to reminisce on the past, for he knows very well that South Africa, captained by Temba Bavuma, has enough match-winners themselves who can pose a serious challenge to them in the WTC final. 'They always seem to compete in every tournament. They've got a lot of experience, especially the white-ball teams – they play across different franchise leagues." 'There's always a little bit of mystique around South Africa, because we don't play them as often as, say, India."
Times of Oman
a day ago
- Business
- Times of Oman
Cummins confirms Steve Smith's batting position for Australia's WTC final
Melbourne: Australian skipper Pat Cummins said that star batter Steve Smith will be batting at number four during the much-anticipated ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final against South Africa at the Lord's. With the ICC World Test Championship Final 2025 fast approaching and set for June 11, Australia have zeroed in on an important batting decision. With multiple alternatives in contention to take the centre-stage, skipper Cummins has named batting icon Steve Smith to occupy a crucial spot in the middle order. In a recent conversation with The Grade Cricketer on Prime Video Australia, Cummins stated as quoted by ICC, "I can confirm that Smudge will be batting at four. Everyone else, I am not willing to, but I can confirm Steve Smith will be number four." Smith, who has batted most of his Test career at number four, boasts 6531 runs from 120 Test innings at the slot, averaging 61.61. This includes 23 centuries and 26 fifties. The veteran batter had also starred in Australia's triumph in the previous WTC Final in 2023, scoring a first-innings century that helped set the tone for a big win. As they prepare to defend the WTC mace, Cummins opened up on the prospect of becoming the first team to do so since the inception of the tournament in 2019. "After winning in 2023, there is a lot of talk of trying to retain it. Go and defend it. It is not tangible until you actually make the final," he said. "Now that we have made it, it will be pretty cool to win another ICC trophy. Playing at Lord's, it is a tournament that every other Test-playing nation is vying for so, it just signifies a pretty good couple of years," Cummins said. The Australian captain also highlighted the significance of the tournament and the challenges it presented. "I think it shows performance over two years. But there are varying conditions. Even in ICC World Cups, it is normally very similar conditions," he said. "A Test tournament, you have got to go and win basically everything at home, but for us, we had to go to Sri Lanka and win in tough spinning conditions," Pat Cummins said. "Go over to New Zealand, and beat a really strong side at home. So, I think it shows that you have really got to be a complete team over a couple-year stretch to make the final," he said. "We just missed out that first year (2019-2021), but I think we are a better side now than we were back then. We lost a couple of games at home. But, yeah, I think two (WTC titles) would be incredible. One, I think, is still a pretty good demonstration of how good we've been over the past few years," the Australian captain said. While Australia will be featuring in their second successive WTC final, South Africa made it to their first by topping the World Test Championship standings. Cummins showered praise on the Proteas, and believes the Temba Bavuma-led side has multiple match-winners in their midst to pose a challenge. "They always seem to compete in every tournament. They have got a lot of experience, especially the white-ball teams - they play across different franchise leagues. Rabada, Maharaj, Bavuma, they have played a lot of cricket over the years," said the Aussie skipper. "They have really good fast bowlers, they always seem to have not just one or two main guys but they have got four-six guys they can call," he said. "And yeah, some batters, you have not seen much (of them), but they have scored plenty of domestic runs. (We have) played most of the guys in the squad, certainly not everyone. There is always a little bit of mystique around South Africa, because we do not play them as often as, say India," he concluded
Int'l Cricket Council
a day ago
- General
- Int'l Cricket Council
Cummins locks in Smith's batting slot for WTC Final
With the ICC World Test Championship Final 2025 fast approaching, Australia have zeroed in on an important batting decision. With multiple alternatives in contention to take the centre-stage, skipper Pat Cummins has named batting icon Steve Smith to occupy a crucial spot in the middle order. In a recent conversation with The Grade Cricketer on Prime Video Australia , Cummins stated, 'I can confirm that Smudge will be batting at four. Everyone else, I'm not willing to, but I can confirm Steve Smith will be number four.' Smith, who has batted most of his Test career at number four, boasts 6531 runs from 120 Test innings at the slot, averaging 61.61. This includes 23 centuries and 26 fifties. The veteran batter had also starred in Australia's triumph in the previous WTC Final in 2023, scoring a first-innings century that helped set the tone for a big win. Highlights – Smith piles on the runs with trademark century | WTC23 Final Highlights – Steve Smith scored his 31st Test century to pile on India's troubles in the ICC World Test Championship Final 2023. As they prepare to defend the WTC mace, Cummins opened up on the prospect of becoming the first team to do so since the inception of the tournament in 2019. 'After winning (in) 2023, there's a lot of talk of trying to retain it. Go and defend it. It's not tangible until you actually make the final. 'Now that we've made it, it'll be pretty cool to win another ICC trophy. Playing at Lord's, it's a tournament that every other Test playing nation is vying for so, it just signifies a pretty good couple of years.' The Australian captain also highlighted the significance of the tournament and the challenges it presented. 'I think it shows performance over two years. But there are varying conditions. Even in ICC World Cups, it's normally very similar conditions. 'A Test tournament, you've got to go and win basically everything at home, but for us, we had to go to Sri Lanka and win in really tough spinning conditions. 'Go over to New Zealand, and beat a really strong side at home. So, I think it shows that you've really got to be a complete team over a couple year stretch to make the final. 'We just missed out that first year (2019-2021), but I think we are a better side now than we were back then. We lost a couple of games at home. But, yeah, I think two (WTC titles) would be incredible. One, I think, is still a pretty good demonstration of how good we've been over the past few years.' Ricky Ponting picks his Australia XI for the World Test Championship Final The former Australia captain names the squad he believes should take on South Africa in the WTC Final. While Australia will be featuring in their second successive WTC final, South Africa made it to their first by topping the World Test Championship standings. Cummins showered praise on the Proteas, and believes the Temba Bavuma-led side have multiple match-winners in their midst to pose a challenge. 'They always seem to compete in every tournament. They've got a lot of experience, especially the white-ball teams - they play across different franchise leagues. Rabada, Maharaj, Bavuma, they've played a lot of cricket over the years. 'They have really good fast bowlers, they always seem to have not just one or two main guys but they have got four-six guys they can call. 'And yeah, some batters, you haven't seen much (of them) but they've scored plenty of domestic runs. (We have) played most of the guys in the squad, certainly not everyone. There's always a little bit of mystique around South Africa, because we don't play them as often as say India.' The World Test Championship Final between Australia and South Africa will kickstart on 11 June at the Lord's Cricket Ground.
Indian Express
3 days ago
- Sport
- Indian Express
Stuart Broad to join South Africa coaching staff ahead of WTC Final vs Australia
Australia will have a familiar foe in the opposition camp when they face South Africa in the World Test Championship Final as former England pacer Stuart Broad will join the Proteas squad as a consultant for the match. The International Cricket Council (ICC) has said that Broad will attend South Africa's training session on June 9 at Lord's. Broad had ended his illustrious playing career with England in July 2023, retiring as the fifth most prolific Test wicket-taker and the second most succesfull fast bowler of all time in the format. This will be his first coaching role since then. Broad took 604 wickets in 167 Tests, second on England's all-time list, of which he took 153 of those against Australia, the most by any player in red-ball history. The fast bowler also boasts a strong record at Lord's, taking 113 wickets in 28 Test matches. The WTC Final is set to be played at the iconic ground from June 11 to 15. Meanwhile, the South African men's team have arrived in the United Kingdom for the match and will face Zimbabwe in a four-day warm-up match at the Arundel Castle Cricket Ground in Sussex from Tuesday. Zimbabwe had earlier faced England last month in one-off Test at Trent Bridge, which they lost by an innings and 45 runs. South Africa later play two Tests against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo after the WTC Final. Australia are the defending champions, having beaten India in the 2023 WTC Final by 209 runs at The Oval. Additionally, this is the first WTC Final to not feature India, with the team losing the first ever edition of the marquee Test in 2019 to New Zealand. India were among the favourites to reach a third final at the start of their home Test season late last year. However, their progression was derailed by a shocking 3-0 whitewash at the hands of New Zealand at home, which ended a streak of home Test series wins that lasted more than a decade. A subsequent 3-1 defeat in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia put paid to India's chances while South Africa's series wins in Bangladesh, coupled by home series wins against Sri Lanka and Pakistan helped them book a maiden spot in the WTC Final.
India Gazette
3 days ago
- Sport
- India Gazette
Stuart Broad takes first coaching role post retirement, joins SA as consultant ahead of WTC final against rival Australia
Johannesburg [South Africa], June 2 (ANI): Former England pacer Stuart Broad has been roped in as a consultant for the South Africa men's team ahead of the ICC World Test Championship final against Australia, reported the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Monday. Taking on his first coaching role since retiring in 2023, Broad will attend Proteas training on June 9 at Lord's as Temba Bavuma's side aim to dethrone Australia as defending World Test Championship mace-holders. Broad took 604 wickets in 167 Tests, second on England's all-time list, of which he took 153 of those against Australia, the most by any player in red-ball history. The fast bowler also boasts a strong record at Lord's, taking 113 wickets in 28 Test matches. This experience and expertise of Broad against Aussies will help SA in their preparation for their first-ever major world title in cricket. The Proteas have convened in the UK and face Zimbabwe at Arundel Castle Cricket Ground in Sussex from Tuesday in their Final build-up, before their meeting with Australia on June 11. Australia are defending champions, having beaten India at The Oval in 2023. Dates: June 11-15, 2025 (Reserve Day: June 16) Venue: Lord's, London Start Time: 10:30 AM (Local Time) The Proteas' WTC journey started with a 1-1 drawn series against India at home, before being handed a 2-0 series defeat by New Zealand, as per ICC. They then travelled to the West Indies, winning 1-0, before picking up pace with 2-0 wins against both Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. This meant that a thrilling two-wicket win against Pakistan at Centurion was enough to help them seal their berth in the showdown. They eventually went on to win the series 2-0 against Pakistan, earning their seventh consecutive Test win in this cycle, helping the Proteas qualify as the table toppers with eight wins, three losses and a draw. The ICC number one-ranked Test team Australia started their journey to the WTC Final with two Ashes wins before England's comeback to draw the series 2-2. This was followed by a clinical clean sweep at home, winning three Tests against Pakistan. They were not able to finish the home Test summer unbeaten, dropping the second Test against the West Indies to draw 1-1 thanks to Shamar Joseph's heroics for the tourists in Brisbane . A 2-0 sweep away from home against New Zealand followed, before Australia hosted India for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. After being handed a huge defeat in the first Test, Australia hit back with three wins in the next four Tests to help them seal their spot in the Ultimate Test. The Aussies' final two Tests of the WTC 2023-25 cycle concluded with the visitors defeating Sri Lanka 2-0 in the subcontinent and finishing second in the table. Squads South Africa: Tony de Zorzi, Ryan Rickelton, Aiden Markram, Temba Bavuma (c), David Bedingham, Tristan Stubbs, Kyle Verreynne, Wiaan Mulder, Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, Dane Paterson, Keshav Maharaj, Senuran Muthusamy Australia: Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Alex Carey, Josh Inglis, Cameron Green, Beau Webster, Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Scott Boland, Nathan Lyon, Matt Kuhnemann. Travelling reserve: Brendan Doggett. (ANI)
