3 things Australia need to do right to beat South Africa in WTC final 2025 ft. Pat Cummins

The stage for the 2025 World Test Championship (WTC) final is set at the iconic Lord’s Stadium in England, ready to host the highly anticipated clash between defending champions Australia and South Africa, beginning Wednesday, June 11.

South Africa finished atop the 2023–25 WTC table, securing victories in eight of their 12 matches and achieving a 69.44% points success rate. Australia finished second with a points percentage of 67.54, having won 13 of their 19 games.

Notably, this will be the first time India won't feature in the WTC final, after having reached the summit clash in both 2021 and 2023, where they were defeated by New Zealand and Australia, respectively.

Meanwhile, with less than 24 hours to go for the WTC 2025 Final, here are three key areas Australia must nail to overcome South Africa and retain their crown.

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3 things Australia need to do right to beat South Africa in WTC final 2025

#1 Pat Cummins must lead the bowling attack from the front

Australia boast a formidable bowling attack led by skipper Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc, both confirmed starters for the WTC 2025 Final. The third seamer’s spot remains a toss-up between Josh Hazlewood and Scott Boland, while Nathan Lyon will spearhead the spin department.

As the Aussies look to defend their crown, Cummins will be expected to lead from the front. The 32-year-old has been instrumental in the 2023–25 WTC cycle, claiming 73 wickets in 17 matches, second only to India’s Jasprit Bumrah, who took 77 in 15 games.

Cummins also has an impressive record against South Africa in Tests, having picked up 41 wickets in eight matches at an exceptional average of 19.31, including three five-wicket hauls. Notably, he has dismissed Aiden Markram four times in the format, a matchup Australia will look to exploit.

Backed by impressive numbers, Cummins will be expected to lead Australia’s bowling charge in English conditions, where his height, accuracy, and ability to generate movement can be especially effective. If he can strike early and set the tone with authority, it will go a long way in boosting Australia’s chances of retaining the WTC title.

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#2 Australian batting lineup needs to tackle Kagiso Rabada’s threat

South Africa’s pace attack is stacked with match-winners - be it Marco Jansen, Lungi Ngidi, or Dane Paterson—but none quite match the impact of Kagiso Rabada. The 30-year-old has been in sensational form throughout the 2023–25 WTC cycle, claiming 47 wickets in just 10 Tests at an outstanding average of 19.97.

When it comes to facing Australia, Rabada has consistently delivered. In 10 Tests against them, he has picked up 49 wickets at an average of 23.08, including three five-wicket hauls.

His personal battles with Australia’s top order have been particularly telling - he’s dismissed Usman Khawaja five times, with the southpaw averaging just 30.8 against him. Steve Smith, too, has struggled at times, having fallen to Rabada on four occasions while averaging 32.

With overcast skies and helpful conditions expected at Lord’s, Rabada’s ability to swing the ball both ways becomes even more dangerous. Australia’s batters will need to be technically sound and tactically smart in the early stages. If they can blunt his threat up front, it could set the tone for the rest of the innings and give the middle order a solid platform to build on.

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#3 Marnus Labuschagne must set the tone as a potential makeshift opener

There’s been plenty of speculation around who will partner Usman Khawaja at the top of the order for Australia in the WTC 2025 final. While young Sam Konstas has earned a place in the squad, he was overlooked during the Sri Lanka series earlier this year.

The more probable option appears to be Marnus Labuschagne stepping up to open, with Cameron Green expected to come in at No. 3 purely as a specialist batter.

However, the 30-year-old has been going through a lean patch, particularly when facing the moving ball. He’s often found himself stuck at one end, struggling to rotate the strike and build any rhythm. Since the start of 2024, he has played 12 Tests, scoring just 522 runs in 22 innings at an average of 23.73, with six half-centuries to his name.

In a high-stakes match like the WTC Final, the right-hander will need to rise to the occasion. He must trust his solid technique and look to put pressure back on the bowlers, especially if the ball isn’t swinging much.

Opening against South Africa’s pace-heavy attack, featuring Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen, won’t be easy. But if he can settle in and rotate the strike smoothly, he has the potential to anchor the innings and provide the stability Australia needs at the top.