• Source:JND
Add as a preferred

Australia vs South Africa, WTC Final: Australia and South Africa are set to face off in the World Test Championship final, which is scheduled to be played at the iconic Lord's Cricket Ground in London and will start from June 11.

This will be Australia's second successive appearance in the WTC final and will be heading into the much-awaited contest as the defending champions. They defeated India in the WTC final 2023 at the Oval. Pat Cummins will be leading the Australian team, whereas the Proteas are being captained by Temba Bavuma.

That ruthless focus Australia brings on the biggest stages is in marked contrast to South Africa, a perennial underachiever. The Proteas have won just one of cricket's major international titles, the Champions Trophy's inaugural predecessor in 1998, when most of the current Proteas were toddlers.

South Africa has confirmed Aiden Markram and Ryan Rickelton as the openers and captain Bavuma at No. 4. They played in the IPL, too. Middle-order batter David Bedingham, South Africa's leading scorer in the cycle, proved in a warmup game against Zimbabwe that he's recovered from a broken toe sustained in April.

Australia has four of its top 10 all-time leading wicket-takers in Nathan Lyon (553, third), Mitchell Starc (382, fourth), captain Pat Cummins (294, eighth), and Hazlewood (279, 10th).

Steve Smith is locked in at No. 4 in the batting order. He turned 36 last week and hasn't played in the top flight since March, just like Konstas, opener Usman Khawaja, Lyon, Boland, and wicketkeeper Alex Carey. But they're entrusted with the know-how to switch on when it counts.


AUS vs SA WTC Final: What is Australia vs South Africa's Head-To-Head Record In Test History?

Both teams have faced off in a total of 101 Test matches so far, with Australia having an upper hand by a huge margin.

Matches played: 101

Australia won: 54

South Africa won: 26

Draws: 21


Australia vs South Africa Major stats in Test cricket history

Australia's highest total: 652/7 d in Johannesburg in Feb 2002

Australia's lowest total: 47 in Cape Town in Nov 2011

South Africa's highest total: 651 in Cape Town in March 2009

South Africa's lowest total: 36 in Melbourne in Feb 1932


Top run-getters in AUS vs SA Tests

Ricky Ponting (AUS): 2132 runs in 48 innings (26 Tests), Avg - 47.37, 50s/100s: 11/8, Highest Score: 143*

AB de Villiers (SA): 2068 runs in 45 innings (24 Tests), Avg - 51.70, 50s/100s: 13/6, Highest Score: 169

Jacques Kallis (SA): 1978 runs in 53 innings (28 Tests), Avg - 40.36, 50s/100s: 10/5, Highest Score: 147

 

Leading wicket-takers in AUS vs SA Tests

Shane Warne (AUS): 130 wickets in 45 innings (24 Tests), Avg - 24.16, BBI: 7/56, 5-fers: 7

Clarence Victor Grimmett (AUS): 77 wickets in 18 innings (10 Tests), Avg - 15.57, BBI: 7/40, 5-fers: 8

Dale Steyn (SA): 70 wickets in 28 innings (15 Tests), Avg - 27.47, BBI: 5/67, 5-fers: 2