2025 World Test Final: The Ultimate Showdown at Lord’s

The Ultimate Cricket Showdown at Lord’s

The 2023-2025 World Test Championship (WTC) will conclude at the historic Lord's Cricket Ground in London, a venue where cricket history has unfolded over generations. This final will put the holders against South Africa and the rising challengers in what should be a package of breath-taking drama, superior cricket, and edge-of-the-seat competition.

Australia, holding the ICC’s number 1 Test ranking and the reigning champions from the previous cycle, will look to retain their title. Meanwhile, South Africa, ranked third but fueled by incredible momentum, is eyeing their maiden WTC crown in what will be their first appearance in the final.

Date: June 11th–15th, 2025
Time: 09:30 AM UTC
Venue: Lord’s Cricket Ground, London
Win Probability: South Africa 24%, Draw 8%, Australia 68%

Form and Path to the Final

Australia: The Reigning Titans

Australia strides into this final as the powerhouse of this WTC cycle. Sure, they faced a couple of bumps along the way, like that surprising loss to the West Indies at the Gabba, but overall, Australia has been nearly unstoppable. The Pat Cummins-led side remained unbeaten in their last six Test series, including a thrilling 3-1 win over India at home and a strong 2-0 series win in New Zealand.

Australia’s recent Ashes performance which is a hard-fought 2-2 draw in England—showed their resilience and depth. The return of Cameron Green from back surgery strengthens their batting, with the all-rounder expected to bat at number three.

South Africa: The Underdogs with Momentum

South Africa had a slow start with a draw against India and a 0-2 loss in New Zealand. Yet, the Proteas responded in style, with four consecutive series wins, including strong away victories in the West Indies and Bangladesh. Their dominant home series wins out of Sri Lanka and Pakistan have kept them in the first position of the WTC points table.

Having strong momentum, Captain Temba Bavuma and his side will try to breach the barrier of the World Test Championship final debut and silence the voices labeling them as perennial underachievers in big matches.

Head-to-Head & Record at Lord’s

Historical Rivalry

Since 2015, Australia and South Africa have played 10 Tests against each other, with South Africa holding a slight edge (5 wins to Australia’s 4). Recent series have swung between both teams.

2016: South Africa won 2-1.
2018: South Africa won 3-1.
2022: Australia won 2-0.

Lord’s Record

Australia’s record at Lord’s is notably strong—5 wins, 2 losses, and 1 draw since 2000. South Africa’s record is respectable as well, with 3 wins, 1 loss, and 1 draw at the venue.

Lord’s has a long-standing reputation for favoring fast bowlers, as evidenced by the 233 wickets taken by pacers in just 8 tests since 2021. This final is definitely going to be a showdown of pace for both teams.

Squads and Probable Playing XIs

Australia

Key Players: Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Cameron Green, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Pat Cummins (captain), Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon
Probable XI: Khawaja, Labuschagne, Green, Smith, Head, Webster, Carey, Cummins, Starc, Lyon, Hazlewood

South Africa

Key Players: Temba Bavuma (captain), Aiden Markram, David Bedingham, Kyle Verreynne, Kagiso Rabada, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj
Probable XI: Rickelton, Markram, Bavuma, Bedingham, Stubbs, Verreynne, Mulder, Jansen, Rabada, Ngidi, Maharaj

Players to Watch

Australia

Usman Khawaja: Leading run-scorer for Australia in this cycle with 1422 runs in 19 Tests, including a top score of 232.
Steve Smith: The lynchpin of Australia’s batting, with a stellar average of 56.7 and 36 Test centuries. Smith’s record at Lord’s is exceptional, making him a key player to watch.
Josh Hazlewood: The spearhead of the Australian pace attack, boasting 57 wickets at an average of 19.68 in this cycle.

South Africa

Kagiso Rabada: The leading wicket-taker for South Africa with 47 wickets in 10 Tests during this cycle and a reputation as one of the most lethal fast bowlers in modern cricket.
Keshav Maharaj: South Africa’s primary spinner with 40 wickets in 8 Tests, Maharaj’s consistency will be crucial on a Lord’s pitch that traditionally favors pace but can assist spin later.

Key Match-Ups to Watch

Usman Khawaja vs. Kagiso Rabada: Khawaja averages 30.8 against Rabada, who will look to keep him in check.
Steven Smith vs. Keshav Maharaj: Smith has enjoyed relative success against Maharaj and will look to dominate the spin.
Temba Bavuma vs. Josh Hazlewood: Bavuma’s technique against quality pace bowling will be tested.
Aiden Markram vs. Pat Cummins: Markram’s ability to handle pace bowling will be crucial for South Africa’s batting depth.

Venue Analysis: Lord’s Cricket Ground

Lord’s is famed for its rich history and challenging conditions. Since 2021:

Average first innings score: 295
Highest score: 524/4
Pacers dominate with 233 wickets at an average of 26.8.
Spinners have taken only 27 wickets at an average of 46.
Toss has not been a significant advantage; teams winning the toss lost 4 of 8 matches.

This suggests the match will be decided largely by skill and stamina rather than luck, with the fast bowlers expected to be the game-changers.

Betting Insights: How to Maximize Your Winnings with Stake.com

For cricket fans eager to add an extra layer of excitement to the World Test Championship Final, betting is a great way to stay engaged. According to Stake.com the betting odds for the 2 nations are:

South Africa: 3.40
Australia: 1.30

betting odds from stake.com for australia and south africa

Australia Favored, but South Africa Hungry

Australia's unique combination of experience, skill, and familiarity with Lord's conditions makes them the favorites to retain their World Test Championship crown. Steve Smith and Usman Khawaja are to lead the batting lineup, while a potent pace attack, featuring Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, and Mitchell Starc, will impose serious challenges on the Proteas. We must not, however, neglect to consider South Africa's great upturn in form, giving them all the much-needed momentum. Their pace attack, led by Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen, along with Keshav Maharaj's strategic understanding, predicts that this final will be a close affair. Expect an exciting series, but I'd take Australia to barely overcome South Africa and maintain their Test dominance.

Don’t Miss the Action and Bet Smart

The 2025 World Test Championship Final at Lord's is expected to be an unforgettable cricket contest. Everything you need for a thrilling Test cricket match is present in this encounter. From June 11th to June 15th, 2025, prepare yourself for five days of fierce action. May the top team win the prized World Test Championship trophy at the legendary Home of Cricket!