Australia vs South Africa: Five Players to watch out for in WTC Final 2025

We’re one sleep away from the 2025 World Test Championship final. This time around, it will be hosted at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground for the first time, with defending champions Australia taking on the challengers South Africa. The home of cricket gears up for a behemoth clash between a solid batting line-up and a lethal bowling attack. It should be a power-packed contest between two evenly matched sides, given the playing conditions.

Here’s a look at five players to look out for in the World Test Championship final:

1. Steve Smith

The Australian vice-captain has been their talisman for the big occasion. He scored a superb century in the previous WTC final against India. Steve Smith also has a healthy average of 44.95 against South Africa in Tests and has an uncanny knack for scoring big runs against tough bowling opposition. Steve Smith has got plenty of runs in this WTC cycle, with five hundreds and four fifties to his name. He seems to revel in the Test format and would be hoping for another day out in the sun in this WTC final. 

2. Usman Khawaja

Usman Khawaja has been Australia’s leading run-getter in this WTC 2023-25 cycle, with 1422 runs in 19 Tests. He had a tough time in the home series against India, but apart from that, he has been Australia’s in-form man in Test cricket. Khawaja got a double hundred against Sri Lanka in the last Test series in the lead-up to this WTC final. 

Khawaja had a great time in England last time during the Ashes and enjoys batting in those conditions. He has the grit and determination to play the long innings, and if he gets going, he can take the game away from the opposition. Now at potentially the fag end of his career and only playing the Test format, Khawaja would be hoping to leave his mark on this WTC final. 

3. Pat Cummins

Australia’s Test skipper is one win away from securing back-to-back Test Championships. He’s been a key contributor in this WTC cycle, and is Australia’s joint leading wicket-taker with 73 wickets at a stellar average of 24.54. 

Cummins has led the way in the big games against India and England in this cycle and is someone whom you expect to step up for the big occasion. Pat Cummins has a solid record against the Proteas as well. He averages 19.32 against South Africa, with 41 wickets in 8 Tests. Cummins would enjoy the conditions at Lord’s and could be a force to reckon with in a big final. 

4. David Bedingham

David Bedingham has been South Africa’s leading run-getter in this WTC cycle. He has scored 645 runs in 12 Tests, including one hundred and three fifties. Bedingham has a solid technique for Test cricket, and is unfazed by raw pace or movement. 

Bedingham has played a lot of county cricket for Durham in the previous seasons and is well-suited to scoring runs in those conditions. He hasn’t been in the best of touches of late but South Africa would be counting on him to perform in this big final. 

5. Kagiso Rabada

The most experienced bowler of this South African attack, the whole nation would be hopeful for Kagiso Rabada to turn up on this big occasion. He has a solid record against Australia, with 49 wickets in 10 Tests at an average of 23.08. Rabada has a good record in England as well, making him well-suited for this WTC final. 

The prolific pacer has had a troubled few months on and off the field. He had a forgettable IPL and SA20 this year and got into trouble over recreational drug use as well. The 2025 WTC final would be a great opportunity for KG Rabada to shine again and silence his critics once and for all.