3 things Australia need to do right to dominate Day 2 of SA vs AUS 2025 WTC Final ft. Pat Cummins 

The 2025 World Test Championship (WTC) Final produced a riveting first day at the Lord's Cricket Ground, with both Australia and South Africa throwing punches to leave the game in a delicate stage. The Pat Cummins-led side were bowled out for 212 after being put into bat first, while South Africa trudged to stumps having lost four wickets for 43.

Kagiso Rabada stole the show in the first half of the contest with a memorable five-wicket haul, becoming only the second bowler to achieve the feat in the WTC Final after Kyle Jamieson did in the inaugural edition. Steve Smith and Beau Webster also made their mark with crucial fifties, before the late collapse in the third session.

South Africa faced the wrath of the Australian pacers after Tea. Mitchell Starc made the new ball talk to dismiss Aiden Markram in the first over itself, before dismissing Ryan Rickelton as well soon after.

The Proteas still have a long way to go before they can even think of a lead. Skipper Temba Bavuma is at the crease unbeaten on 3 alongwith David Bedingham.

On that note, let us take a look at three things Australia need to do right to dominate Day 2 of SA vs AUS 2025 WTC Final.

#1 Pat Cummins needs to capitalise on South Africa's lack of intent as first change

The biggest advantage Australia possibly have in this WTC Final over South Africa is the fact that there is not much drop off between their primary bowlers, and the ones who come onto replace them.

Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen played their part with the ball in the first innings, but lacked support from the other bowlers, especially Lungi Ngidi. The right-arm pacer, being the first change, was supposed to sustain the pressure created by the frontline pacers, but failed to make an impact.

He only bowled eight overs, conceding 45 runs at an economy of 5.60, without any wicket to his name. In contrast, Australia had Pat Cummins steaming in after Mitchell Starc finished his first spell. This ensured that high-quality and tight bowling continued, giving South Africa no room to target a bowler and capitalise.

Cummins will also get into the game more as the ball gets older. Additionally, he is an ideal candidate to take advantage of the slope as it naturally augurs with his ability to nip the ball back in, and also get some extra bounce from that end.

His long spells will be a vital part of proceedings on Day 2, and it is bound to make life difficult for the batters. He is anyways not a proficient swinger of the ball, and conditions are conducive for the use of wobble seam.

#2 Continue to be aggressive to Bavuma as he holds the key to the innings

With the sun out, the pitch a tad baked, and the ball getting older, South Africa have the luxury of comparitively better batting conditions than Day 1 but do not have enough batters to make the most of it. Four wickets down, and only Kyle Veerreynne and Marco Jansen to follow as batting options, skipper Temba Bavuma holds the key.

He was handed a stern test by the Australian bowlers towards the end of Day 1, but he managed to hold on until Stumps. But grit can not take you all the way. At some stage, Bavuma will have to be brave and find a way to score runs with shots against tight bowling, which will not relent by any means.

Although a lead of 169 may not seem much, considering the conditions, it seems enough runs to play with. Given that decent cushion, Australia can afford to go hard at the Proteas skipper, and pin him at one end and apply pressure. Being aggressive might result in a few extra boundaries, but it also means denying singles, giving bowlers more time to set him up.

In such a fast-paced game going at the rate of knots, Bavuma has the responsibility of holding his end. His recent run of form, especially since taking over as captain, helps his case. However, if Australians continue to be aggressive against him, unafraid to pitch the ball up, while using the natural bounce and assistance from the pitch, Bavuma might not be able to hold on for much long.

#3 Australia batters have to be more proactive to unsettle Rabada-Jansen in the second innings

Both sides have erred in being over-cautious against the new ball in the first innings. Although it is not a belter of a pitch by any means, it is not entirely a snake pit either. In a contest that is not expected to be on the higher side of scoring, every run will prove to be valuable. In such cases, cameos are more practical than a marathon epic innings.

The openers have the responsibility to set the tempo, and they will have to show intent, at least after surviving the early spell. Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne had to deal with a tough opening set of overs by Marco Jansen and Kagiso Rabada, but there was no distinct attempt to unsettle the bowler or look to punish the bad balls.

Although spin may play a part in the second innings, South Africa's hopes almost entirely pin on Rabada and Jansen. Australia did a decent job of not allowing the secondary bowlers like Lungi Ngidi and Wiaan Mulder to settle, and they have to employ a similar approach against Rabada and Jansen as well to reduce their efficiency.