WTC Final 2025: Labuschagne gamble hits Australia hard at Lord's

South Africa banked heavily on winning the toss at Lord's against the defending champions in the WTC Final clash. Temba Bavuma read the conditions right, opting to bowl in the overcast conditions. His decision gained credibility as the Protean pacers brought the Kangaroos down to four wickets in the opening session itself. Lord's has proved significantly tough to bat on in the opening session of Tests. The trend continued as Australia's top order came undone against Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen. Meanwhile, the Kangaroos would mull whether their move to promote Marnus Labuschagne and make space for Cameron Green worked against their favour in the all-important clash.

South Africa dominate the opening session of the WTC Final against Australia at Lord's

Kagiso Rabada, back in the side after serving a one-month ban due to a positive drugs test earlier this year, set the tone early. He knocked over Usman Khawaja for a 20-ball duck, being consistent in his plan to lure the batters into testing the outside edge with his angled deliveries. Cameron Green, returning from back surgery, lasted just four balls. After opening his account with a boundary, he edged Rabada’s very next delivery to second slip, where Aiden Markram pulled off a low grab. Rabada’s morning spell was lethal, claiming six overs, one wicket, and leaking just nine runs.

Once Rabada had done the early damage, Marco Jansen took the baton. Australia’s decision to push Marnus Labuschagne up the order in place of regular opener Sam Konstas backfired. Labuschagne was cautious in his debut innings as an opener, inching cautiously to 17 from 56 balls before edging a full delivery from Jansen to wicketkeeper Kyle Verreynne.

#MarnusLabuschagne falls for the trap and #MarcoJansen has his first wicket of the ICC #WTC25 Final! 🇿🇦#WTCFinal | #SAvAUS, Day 1, watch LIVE on Star Sports 1, Star Sports 1 Hindi & JioHotstar pic.twitter.com/2wtIgkKiEJ

— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) June 11, 2025

Verreynne capped off the session with a spectacular diving catch to his right, dismissing Travis Head for 11 and sealing South Africa’s dominant morning. Steve Smith, however, held firm and remained unbeaten on 26. Historically, the opening sessions at Lord’s have been infavorable for batters. Since 2022, 16 wickets have fallen in the first 15 overs of the opening day across seven Tests here, with an average of just 18.18. The stats stood amplified as Australia's gamble with Labuschagne backfired right at the start of the match.