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Australia confirmed their place alongside South Africa in the World Test Championship (WTC) final on 11-15 June 2025 at Lord’s in London after downing India by six wickets at the SCG in Sydney early on Sunday morning South African time.
India’s chance of making the final evaporated when they were bundled out for 157 in their second innings, leaving Australia with a target of just 162, which they achieved in just 27 overs to clinch the 5-match series 3-1.
Australia’s 2-match series against Sri Lanka on the sub-continent later this month are mere practice matches for Pat Cummins’ men after their come-from-behind series win against India.
The Proteas have not faced Australia since 2022, when they lost the 3-match series 2-0 Down Under. However, the preceding 3-match home series resulted in South Africa whitewashing the Australians 3-0 thanks to victories at the Wanderers, St George’s Park and Newlands.
Their last match at the SCG during the New Years Test, South Africa settled for a draw after following-on. Australia had amassed 475 for 4 declared with centuries from Usman Khawaja (195 not out) and Steve Smith (104) while Marnus Labuschagne (79) and Travis Head (70) notched up half-centuries.
In reply, the Proteas were bowled out for 255 with Keshav Maharaj top-scoring with 53 and Simon Harmer adding 47. Josh Hazlewood was the chief destroyer, claiming 4-48 with Cummins nabbing 3-60.
Following-on, South Africa managed 106 for two before the match was called with Sarel Erwee top-scoring with 42.
There are five current Proteas that took part in that drawn Test namely, Temba Bavuma, Kyle Verreynne, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj and Kagiso Rabada.
Out of the 11 players to face-off against India at the SCG that didn’t play against South Africa in the third Test in 2022 are Mitchell Starc, Scott Boland, Sam Konstas and Beau Webster.
However, the Proteas are a transformed team under the leadership of Bavuma and coach Shukri Conrad. The Proteas have won six Tests on the trot and since that lost series against Australia, they have won nine out of 13 Tests – with two of the losses coming against New Zealand with a third-string side at the start of 2024.
In the 25 innings since Australia – including the first innings from the current Test against Pakistan – South Africa have scored more than 300 on 12 occasions. During this period, the Proteas batsmen have notched up 13 centuries and 22 half-centuries.
The bowlers have stood tall as well, with 13 five-fors being claimed. Rabada has four to his name while Jansen, Maharaj and Dane Paterson all have two.
Rabada, Jansen and Maharaj have claimed a total of 123 wickets between them at an average of below 20 while Paterson has added a further 21 wickets at an average of 23.
Since 1907, South Africa have played at Lord’s 18 times, winning six and losing eight. However, since re-admission, the Proteas have made Lord’s a happy hunting ground, winning five out of the seven matches to be played there.
South Africa’s last visit to the iconic ground in August 2022, saw them down England by an innings and 12 runs.
Lord’s may be a neutral venue but considering the feelings amongst the Big Three about South Africa’s path to the final, the English fans may just done the Baggy Green cap in favour of their Ashes foes.
