A memorable experience awaits at the historic Lord’s Cricket Ground in London for Australia and South Africa in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) Final 2025. The five-day test match will take place between 11 June – 15 June (and 16 June will be for reserve) and features defending champions Australia hoping to retain their title against South Africa, who will be looking for their first Test Championship win. A match filled with excitement is in store for both teams, players, countries, and fans.
Match Schedule and Venue
- Dates: June 11 – 15, 2025 (Reserve day: June 16)
- Venue: Lord’s Cricket Ground, London
- Start Time: 10:30 AM local time (3:30 PM IST)
- Live Streaming (India): JioHotstar app and Star Sports network
- Format: One-off Test match (five days, with a reserve day if needed)
Prize Money
The stakes are higher than ever, with the ICC announcing a record increase in prize money for the 2025 final.This substantial reward reflects the growing prestige of the WTC and the significance of this final.
- Champions: USD $3.6 million (over double the previous edition)
- Runners-up: USD $2.16 million
ICC World Test Championship Final 2025 squads
South Africa squad: 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 squad: 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
Predicted Playing XIs
| Australia | South Africa |
| Usman Khawaja | Aiden Markram |
| Marnus Labuschagne | Ryan Rickelton |
| Cameron Green | Tony de Zorzi |
| Steve Smith | Temba Bavuma (c) |
| Travis Head | Tristan Stubbs |
| Alex Carey (wk) | Kyle Verreynne (wk) |
| Beau Webster | Wiaan Mulder |
| Pat Cummins (c) | Marco Jansen |
| Mitchell Starc | Keshav Maharaj |
| Josh Hazlewood | Kagiso Rabada |
| Nathan Lyon | Lungi Ngidi |
Also read: Top 10 Cricketers Who Retired in 2025: End of an Era in World Cricket
Player Highlights and Key Statistics
- Australia: Travis Head, whose century helped propel Australia to victory in the 2023 WTC Final, will be key. Pat Cummins, leading the envy-inducing pace attack with Starc and Hazlewood + Nathan Lyon’s game-changing spin option also in their toolkit. Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne will hold the batting line up together.
- South Africa: Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi are in top form leading the pace attack, with the options of Marco Jansen and Wiaan Mulder giving South Africa a good balanced all-rounder line-up as well. Temba Bavuma showing great leadership qualities coupled with Aiden Markram’s batting too will be important.
Historical Context and Rivalry
Australia and South Africa have a rich Test cricket rivalry. While Australia is the most successful Test nation in history, South Africa has often challenged Australia when playing against them, particularly in away series. This will be their first Test meeting in three years, adding to the allure.
- Australia: Defending WTC champions, having beaten India in the 2023 final. They are aiming to become the first team to retain the WTC title.
- South Africa: First-time WTC finalists, seeking their first ICC trophy in over 25 years. Their only ICC title remains the 1998 ICC KnockOut Trophy.
Statistics and Points Table
| Team | Matches | Wins | Losses | Draws | Points | PCT |
| South Africa | 12 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 100 | 69.44 |
| Australia | 19 | 13 | 4 | 2 | 154 | 67.54 |
South Africa topped the WTC 2023 – 25 points table, with Australia a close second.
Why This Final Matters
- For Australia: The chance to cement their legacy as the first team to win back-to-back WTC titles.
- For South Africa: A rare opportunity to lift a major ICC trophy and end a long wait for global success.
Conclusion
The Australia vs South Africa WTC Final 2025 is not just a match, it is a battle for pride and cricketing history. With world-class players, historic locations, and record prize money on offer, this will be one of the most memorable Test cricket finals in history.
Written By Smita Singh
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