Last Updated on 4 months by Charbel Coorey
South Africa play with the Kookaburra ball. Australia play with the Kookaburra ball. But when those two men’s teams meet in the WTC final at Lord’s next week the ball will be a Dukes – which has a more pronounced seam than the Kookaburra, which makes it move more off the pitch, and is coated in lacquer that makes it swing more.
2025 WTC Final: Squads and match information
Australia squad: 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. Travelling reserve: Brendan Doggett
South Africa squad: 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, Senuran Muthusamy
When: 11 June, 2025 – 15 June, 2025
Where: Lord’s Cricket Ground, London
2025 WTC Final Preview: Lord’s Stats and Predicted XIs
Lord’s Venue Analysis:
In the eight Tests played since 2020, teams batting first have won three, while those fielding first have won four.
Australia (2023) and South Africa (2022) have each won their only Test at Lord’s in this period.
As seen in the graph, batting at Lord’s has become relatively easier in the post-COVID era. From 2020 onwards, the average runs per wicket has risen to 29.63, paired with a scoring rate of 3.48 runs per over.
The data reveals that batting in the second and fourth innings at Lord’s has been relatively easier since 2020. However, it must be noted that England have batted in the second or fourth innings most of the time, contributing to the higher figures.
Predicted XIs for the 2025 WTC Final
Cameron Green’s sensational county form has virtually cemented his place in Australia’s XI for the upcoming World Test Championship final. Turning out for Gloucestershire, Green has piled up three centuries along with an unbeaten 67 across just eight innings while batting at number five. These performances mark his return to competitive cricket following back surgery last October.
Ahead of the team’s departure to England, Australia head coach Andrew McDonald spoke on SEN radio, confirming that Steven Smith will retain his place at number four. He also noted Green’s versatility, saying the all-rounder is capable of batting anywhere within the top six. However, Green will be unavailable to bowl in the WTC final.
Green’s inclusion is likely to cause a ripple effect in Australia’s batting order. Travis Head, who had opened in Sri Lanka, is set to move back to number five. This shift leaves Usman Khawaja in need of yet another opening partner, having recently paired with the likes of Smith, Head, Konstas, and Nathan McSweeney across Australia’s last three Test series.
Webster, who made a solid impression on debut against India, has had a mixed stint with Warwickshire. In four matches, he chipped in with the ball, taking 10 wickets at an average of 27.80, and scored 85 in his first knock. However, he hasn’t crossed fifty since, and whether he retains his spot at Lord’s will depend on the pitch and the value selectors place on a fifth bowling option.
Australia predicted XI: 1. Usman Khawaja, 2. Marnus Labuschagne/Sam Konstas, 3. Cameron Green/Marnus Labuschagne, 4. Steve Smith, 5. Travis Head, 6. Beau Webster/Cameron Green, 7. Alex Carey (wk), 8. Pat Cummins (c), 9. Mitchell Starc, 10. Nathan Lyon, 11. Josh Hazlewood
McDonald was asked whether Labuschagne could open in the WTC final given he has never opened the batting in Test cricket, but he did not give a definitive answer. “You watch the dismissals and it’s isolated incidents that you don’t know what he’s doing in the background, how it looks in the nets, how he’s moving,” McDonald said.
“That’ll be the key part of all of it is to see where they’re at in front of us and what those sort of last seven days of prep look like to make good decisions for us.” Konstas has never played Test cricket in England, which could count against him in this one-off Test. Labuschagne, on the other hand, not only brings broader First Class experience but has also played 10 Tests in England, averaging 39.37.
South Africa’s Predicted XI
South Africa, meanwhile, have a pleasant selection headache on their hands, with eight batting options available and two contentious spots — number three and either number six or seven. Head coach Shukri Conrad has confirmed that Aiden Markram will open alongside Ryan Rickelton. That leaves one of Tony de Zorzi, Tristan Stubbs, and Wiaan Mulder in line to bat at number three, while that same trio, along with David Bedingham, are candidates for a middle-order role at number six. Judging by how they lined up at Arundel, it appears Mulder will bat at number three, Stubbs at five and Bedingham six with Tony de Zorzi likely to sit out.
South Africa’s Predicted XI: 1. Ryan Rickelton, 2. Aiden Markram, 3. Wiaan Mulder, 4. Temba Bavuma, 5. Tristan Stubbs, 6. David Bedingham, 7. Kyle Verreynne, 8. Marco Jansen, 9. Keshav Maharaj, 10. Kagiso Rabada, 11. Lungi Ngidi
Key stats
- 45 – Australia’s Test match win percentage at Lord’s. No team, not even England (40.68) has a better record at the Home of Cricket than the Aussies. Australia have claimed 18 wins from 40 matches at Lord’s in more than 140 years of Test cricket, which is far superior to South Africa’s 33.33 per cent from 18 Tests at the same venue.
- 1 – Test matches South Africa have lost at Lord’s since readmission to international cricket in 1991. From seven Tests at the north London venue, they have won five and drawn one, with their only loss coming in 2017. They beat England by an innings inside three days in their last match at Lord’s in 2022.
- 7 – The Proteas’ Test winning streak entering the WTC final, beating West Indies, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Pakistan to top the standings with a points percentage of 69.44.
Player’s stats at Lord’s
Australian batters at Lord’s:
Australian bowlers at Lord’s:
South Africa batters at Lord’s:
South Africa bowlers at Lord’s:
AUS vs SA: Head-to-head Matchups
Kagiso Rabada vs Australian batters:
Lungi Ngidi vs Australian batters:
Lungi Ngidi is yet to dismiss any Australian batter in Test cricket.
Marco Jansen vs Australian batters:
Pat Cummins vs South Africa batters:
Josh Hazlewood vs South Africa batters
Mitchell Starc vs South Africa batters
References:
- https://www.cricket.com.au/news/4280667/wtc-final-stats-numbers-matter-australia-south-africa-lords-england-history-streaks-trivia-captains-cummins-bavuma#:~:text=Australia%20have%20claimed%2018%20wins,Tests%20at%20the%20same%20venue.
- https://www.cricmetric.com/index.py
- https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/australia-news-cameron-green-has-all-bases-covered-while-spotlight-focus-on-marnus-labuschagne-1487790
- https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/ipl-county-cricket-or-nets-at-home-how-the-australians-have-prepared-for-the-wtc-final-1487912
- https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/wtc-final-mulder-at-no-3-stubbs-at-five-ashwell-prince-keeps-all-possibilities-open-1489237
- https://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/stats/index.html
- https://www.cricbuzz.com/cricket-news/134542/all-balls-in-the-air-ahead-of-wtc-final
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