South Africa Eyes Historic Win in WTC Final Against Australia

South Africa's Quest for Glory

As South Africa prepares for their ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final against Australia, they are determined to clinch their first world title. Key players like opener Aiden Markram, fast bowler Kagiso Rabada, and spinner Keshav Maharaj have significant milestones to achieve during this crucial match.

After enduring years of near misses in ICC tournaments, South Africa is eager to secure their first major trophy at Lord's, having previously faced Australia. To accomplish this, the team needs standout performances from their leading batsmen, including captain Temba Bavuma and Markram, along with their pace attack featuring Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, and Marco Jansen.

Following a rocky start, South Africa finished the WTC 2023-25 cycle strong, topping the table with eight victories, three losses, and one draw.

Markram, who has yet to shine on the biggest stages for the Proteas, is just 143 runs shy of reaching 3,000 Test runs. In his 45 Tests and 82 innings, he has accumulated 2,857 runs at an average of 35.71, including seven centuries and 13 fifties, which is underwhelming given his evident talent.

In four ICC knockout matches across ODIs and T20Is, Markram has managed only 68 runs at an average of 22.66, with a top score of 31 and no half-centuries.

Meanwhile, Rabada has the opportunity to enhance his records in both Test and international cricket. He is on the verge of surpassing Proteas legend Allan Donald to become the fourth-highest wicket-taker in Tests and could also outpace Jacques Kallis to become the fifth-highest international wicket-taker for South Africa.

Currently, Rabada ranks fifth among South African Test wicket-takers, with 327 wickets at an average of 22.00, boasting best figures of 7/112 and 16 five-wicket hauls. He needs just four more wickets to surpass Donald's tally of 330 wickets from 72 Tests.

In the international arena, Rabada stands sixth all-time with 566 wickets across 241 matches, averaging 24.27, with best figures of 7/112 and 18 five-wicket hauls. Seven additional wickets would elevate him above Kallis, who has 572 wickets in 513 matches at an average of 32.16. The all-time leading wicket-taker for South Africa is Shaun Pollock, with 823 wickets in 414 matches at an average of 23.63.

Rabada's performance in ICC knockout stages has been decent, with six wickets in four matches at an average of 26.83 and a best performance of 2/14, maintaining an economy rate of 7.00.

Keshav Maharaj, the team's leading spinner, is on the brink of making history. He could become the first South African spinner to achieve 200 Test wickets, needing just two more, and also aims to be the first to reach 300 international wickets, requiring six more.

In his 57 Tests, Maharaj has taken 198 wickets at an average of 29.68, with best figures of 9/129 and 11 five-wicket hauls. Across all formats, he has 294 wickets, averaging 29.74, with best figures of 9/129.

Although Maharaj's record in ICC knockout matches is modest, with only three wickets in four games at an average of 39.33 and best figures of 2/33, his economy rate of 4.91 is commendable.

South Africa's squad for the WTC Final includes: Temba Bavuma (c), Tony de Zorzi, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Marco Jansen, Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi, Corbin Bosch, Kyle Verreynne, David Bedingham, Tristan Stubbs, Ryan Rickelton, Senuran Muthusamy, and Dane Paterson.