Mitchell Starc Highlights Significance of WTC Final Against South Africa
Starc Reflects on the Importance of the WTC Final
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], June 11: As Australia prepares for their ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final against South Africa, fast bowler Mitchell Starc shared that successfully defending the mace at Lord's would be a remarkable achievement and a "great reward" for the team's hard work over the years.
The Australian team aims to secure back-to-back victories in the WTC and further enhance their storied cricketing history, while the South African squad seeks their first major title as they face off in the 'Ultimate Test' at Lord's starting Wednesday.
In an interview with Star Sports, Starc remarked, "This is a chance for us to go back-to-back. Although the World Test Championship is still a relatively new format, it has been a significant journey for our team. We missed the final in the first cycle but were fortunate to win it the second time. Now, with many players from the 2023 final still in the squad, having this opportunity again at Lord's is truly special. Winning the Mace for a second time would be a tremendous reward for all the effort this group has put in over the years."
The 2020s have been a successful decade for Australia, highlighted by their T20 World Cup victory in 2021, the ICC World Test Championship win in 2023, retaining the Ashes against England the same year, and clinching the ICC Cricket World Cup against a strong Indian side. They have shown dominance across all formats, with all title wins, except for the T20 WC 2021, occurring under captain Pat Cummins.
Meanwhile, South African pace leader Kagiso Rabada discussed their strategies for each batsman and the challenges of competing at a neutral venue. He stated, "It’s a completely neutral venue, making it difficult to predict the outcome. However, when facing top players in these conditions, dismissing them is a clear priority. We have specific plans for each of their batsmen, but ultimately, it’s about keeping things straightforward—that’s what this game boils down to."
Australia's Playing XI: Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Cameron Green, Steven Smith, Travis Head, Beau Webster, Alex Carey(w), Pat Cummins(c), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood.
South Africa's Playing XI: Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton, Wiaan Mulder, Temba Bavuma(c), Tristan Stubbs, David Bedingham, Kyle Verreynne(w), Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi.