Temba Bavuma Reveals South Africa's XI for World Test Championship Final Against Australia
South Africa's Squad Announcement for the WTC Final
London [UK], June 10: Temba Bavuma, the captain of South Africa, has disclosed the team lineup for the ICC World Test Championship Final set to take place against Australia at Lord's, commencing on June 11.
Historically, South Africa has performed remarkably at Lord's since 1991, with only one loss, five victories, and a single draw, showcasing a strong track record. In contrast, Australia, the reigning champions, have secured 18 wins out of 40 matches, demonstrating their familiarity with the venue's conditions.
Since December 2019, Bavuma has emerged as South Africa's top run-scorer in Test matches, boasting an average close to 50. He is leading the team to its inaugural WTC final after finishing atop the 2023-25 standings with a remarkable 69.44-point percentage.
From the beginning of 2020, Bavuma has accumulated 1,794 runs across 24 matches, averaging 48.48 with a strike rate of 50, including three centuries and 11 fifties, making him the leading run-scorer for South Africa in this WTC cycle.
Under the leadership of Pat Cummins, Australia aims to defend the mace they won by defeating India in the last World Test Championship Final held at the Oval in June 2023. Australia has not lost a Test series in the last two years, achieving victories in New Zealand and Sri Lanka while retaining the Ashes in England in 2023.
They also triumphed over Pakistan and India at home, alongside a draw against the West Indies, to secure their place in the WTC final against the Proteas.
With Australia making their second consecutive appearance in the WTC final and South Africa debuting, the stakes are incredibly high. Australia, led by Pat Cummins, brings the experience of their 2023 title win, while the Proteas are eager to create a new legacy in Test cricket.
South Africa's playing XI includes: Temba Bavuma (c), Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton, Wiaan Mulder, Tristan Stubbs, David Bedingham, Kyle Verrynne, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, and Lungi Ngidi.