Australia Reveals Squad for World Test Championship Final Against South Africa
Australia's Squad Announcement for the WTC Final
Australia has officially unveiled their lineup for the World Test Championship final, set to take place against South Africa. The highly anticipated match kicks off on Wednesday at Lord's in London, where Australia seeks to defend their title at this historic venue.
Opening the batting will be Usman Khawaja, who will be joined by fellow Queenslander Marnus Labuschagne. In the bowling department, Josh Hazlewood has been chosen over Scott Boland, joining Mitchell Starc and captain Pat Cummins as the primary fast bowlers.
Cameron Green makes a return to the Test squad after undergoing back surgery, and the captain is optimistic about Green's performance, having placed him in the crucial no. 3 batting position. Beau Webster also retains his place in the squad, expected to contribute with his medium-pace bowling and batting at no. 6 during this significant final.
Despite strong performances in training, players like Sam Konstas and Josh Inglis will not feature in the playing XI. According to Cummins, the selectors favored Marnus due to his extensive experience at this venue.
The Australian squad is filled with experienced players eager to defend their WTC title against a formidable South African side. This final promises to be an exhilarating contest between two of the top Test teams at the iconic Lord's ground.
Australia's Playing XI for the WTC Final 2025 vs South Africa
- Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Cameron Green, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Beau Webster, Alex Carey (wk), Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood
This final marks Australia's consecutive qualification for the WTC Final, having triumphed over India in the previous cycle's 2023 final to claim the championship. However, they face a more challenging opponent this time in Temba Bavuma's South Africa, who remains undefeated under his captaincy. Interestingly, Pat Cummins has never lost a final while leading the team in international cricket.
This matchup is set to be a thrilling spectacle, and cricket enthusiasts worldwide can look forward to an exciting contest between Australia and South Africa over the coming days.