Monty Panesar Backs Australia as Favorites in World Test Championship Final Against South Africa
Australia vs. South Africa: A Clash for the WTC Title
In a recent statement, former England spinner Monty Panesar has labeled Australia as the frontrunners to retain the World Test Championship (WTC) title. He believes that South Africa has a significant chance to demonstrate their capability against the world's elite.
The defending champions, Australia, are set to face South Africa on Wednesday at Lord's, famously known as the 'Home of Cricket', for the coveted WTC mace. Many fans and cricket analysts consider the Baggy Greens the favorites, primarily due to their wealth of experience.
With Josh Hazlewood returning from injury, Australia's bowling lineup has gained a considerable boost, providing them with a psychological edge. The 34-year-old fast bowler, who recently celebrated a trophy win with the Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the IPL, boasts an impressive record of never losing a final.
Panesar commented, "Australia has an edge with Josh Hazlewood, who has never faced defeat in a final. Their experience is invaluable. The team appears robust in both bowling and batting, making them the favorites to clinch victory."
Conversely, South Africa, long plagued by their inability to secure an ICC title, may finally have a chance to end their drought in the upcoming WTC final. They narrowly missed out on glory in the T20 World Cup final against India last year. With seven consecutive wins, South Africa is poised for another opportunity at silverware.
As they prepare for this crucial match, South Africa has faced criticism regarding their path to the final, having qualified after only 12 matches. Panesar sees this as a pivotal moment for South Africa to prove their worth by challenging Australia for the championship.
"I hope South Africa steps up and competes fiercely. There has been talk about their relatively easy route to the final. This is a prime opportunity for them to show they can take on the best. If they win, I want to see them play more Test matches, which is essential for the sport," he added.
South Africa's squad includes: 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, and Senuran Muthusamy.
Australia's lineup features: 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, with Brendan Doggett as a traveling reserve.