The ICC World Test Championship final begins on Wednesday, June 11, at the Lord’s in London, featuring two powerhouses of cricket -- Australia and South Africa. There’s plenty at stake, especially for the Proteas, who are chasing just their second international trophy since winning the Champions Trophy in 1998.
The road to the World Test Championship final has been fascinating for Temba Bavuma’s South Africa, who played 12 matches, winning 8, losing 3, and drawing 1, to finish with 100 points and a PCT of 69.44%.
Meanwhile, Australia -- the ICC No.1 ranked Test side -- played 19 matches, winning 13, losing 4, and drawing 2, collecting 154 points with a PCT of 67.54%. The Aussies began their campaign with back-to-back Ashes wins before England fought back to level the series 2-2.
Five Fun Facts about AUS Vs SA WTC Final:
1. Temba Bavuma’s Unbeaten Streak
Since being appointed South Africa’s Test captain on February 17, 2023, Temba Bavuma has never lost a red-ball match as skipper. Under his leadership, the Proteas have played nine Tests--winning eight and drawing one.
2. Josh Hazlewood: The Final Specialist
Australia’s pace ace Josh Hazlewood is something of a lucky charm. At 31, he has played in eight finals across formats--and never lost one. His streak extended when he led Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s bowling unit to their first-ever IPL title in 2025, breaking a 17-year drought. Fit and firing, he’s set to feature this time after missing the last WTC final due to injury.
3. Travis Head, the Final Hero
When the stakes are sky-high, Travis Head delivers. In the 2023 WTC final at The Oval, he carved out a brilliant 163 in the first innings--his first Test century away from home. He scored 18 runs in the second innings and the total of 181 runs was the backbone of Australia’s title win against India. Just months later, at the 2023 ODI World Cup final, he rose to the occasion once more with a majestic 137 to become just the seventh player in history to score a hundred in a World Cup final.
4. Fortress Lord’s for Australia
Australia remain unbeaten at the Lord’s since 2015 wining all their last three Tests in London. Interestingly, South Africa too have enjoyed recent success at the venue, winning two of their last three Tests.
5. Proteas’ First WTC Final
This is South Africa’s maiden appearance in a World Test Championship final. Despite decades of producing top-tier talent, the Proteas have only one ICC trophy to their name--the 1998 Champions Trophy. With a history of near-misses in knockouts, this final offers a chance to end their long-standing title drought.
