Last Updated on 4 months by Charbel Coorey

The Lord’s pitch looks dry for the 2025 World Test Championship (WTC) Final. That is according to Steve Smith, who believes spin will play a key role as the Test goes on.

Conditions have been dry in London in recent weeks, contributing to the conditions. Such a situation surely puts any idea of full pace attacks to bed.

“I think spin will play a big part, particularly as the game wears on,” Smith said, as quoted by the ICC.

Lord’s pitch could make for a tricky decision at the toss at the 2025 WTC Final

The greenish tinge on the Lord’s surface, plus some overcast conditions for the first two days, may prompt the captain who wins the toss to bowl first. However, warm and dry conditions at the backend of the Test could make batting last quite tricky.

Nathan Lyon and Keshav Maharaj are both terrific spinners who can make use of any assistance in the Lord’s surface. Lyon has taken the fourth-most wickets in the 2023-25 WTC cycle with 66 at an average of 24.00. Maharaj has also been outstanding, taking 40 wickets at 20.57, including 14 wickets at 25.6 at home.

“It is dry, I think. The reports, we only came here a week ago. So, it’s pretty dry to start the season over here. There hasn’t been much rain, which is rare for England, obviously,” Smith said.

“It does look like quite a dry surface and I think the footmarks will definitely come into play as the game wears on.”

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That being said, what happens on the first two days can go a long way to deciding the result. Both teams have potent pace attacks, so batting well early in the Test can set up the match for either side.

It is something Steve Smith and Travis Head achieved in the 2023 WTC Final against India, where they put on a mammoth 285-run stand for the fourth wicket. Smith hit 121 in the first innings of that match; something he is aiming to replicate at Lord’s – a ground he averages 58.33 at.

“I’ve had a bit of success here,” Smith said. “It takes a bit of time getting used to the slope, one end thinking you are falling over, the other you feel a bit tall.

“It’s a nice wicket to bat on but if there’s a bit of cloud about and the balls swing around, it can get tricky.”

Australia are aiming to become the first team to win two WTC titles. South Africa are seeking to end their long wait for an ICC title since winning the 1998 Champions Trophy.