3 things to look forward to in SA vs AUS 2025 WTC final ft. Josh Hazlewood

As the dust settles on the IPL 2025 season, the focus shifts to the next big event on the cricketing calendar - the World Test Championship (WTC) final. While Team India's absence may have robbed a few fans of intrigue, it doesn't get much bigger than fierce rivals Australia and South Africa going toe-to-toe for the Test silverware.

After finishing in the top two of the 2023-25 WTC cycle, the Aussies and the Proteas will lock horns in a highly anticipated clash at Lord's, starting today (June 11). Both sides have plenty to play for, with the Aussies looking to add a third ICC trophy in the last two years and South Africa attempting to change the narrative about them in ICC tournaments by winning only their second title.

The main plot aside, several other sub-plots and individual matchups add further excitement to his marquee matchup.

Here, we deep dive into the three key things fans can look forward to in the South Africa-Australia WTC 2025 final.

# 1 Umpteen Steve Smith narratives with only one solution

Can Kagiso Rabada break Steve Smith's love affair with Lord's? [Credit: Getty]

Steve Smith has made Lord's truly his own in Test cricket, averaging 58.33 in six outings. Furthermore, if his maiden Test at the venue, when he played more as a bowler, is excluded, the average shoots up to over 73 in five matches.

The 36-year-old has scored 50+ in four out of his seven innings at Lord's, including two centuries. With the veteran batter announcing his ODI retirement recently, Tests will hold the highest priority for the rest of his career. Smith also scored a match-winning century in Australia's 2023 WTC final triumph, and his ability to deliver in ICC knockout games is unparalleled.

Yet, all of it will be put to the ultimate test when he comes up against South Africa. The champion batter averages under 45 against the Proteas in the red-ball format - his lowest against Test-playing nations except Bangladesh.

Smith has also struggled in Tests against South Africa's two most experienced bowlers, Kagiso Rabada and Keshav Maharaj. The duo have dismissed him a combined eight times in Tests, with Smith averaging under 33 against them.

It will be interesting to see if Smith's love affair with Lord's continues or whether the Proteas' veteran duo can continue their success against him.

# 2 The unique Josh Hazlewood conundrum

Are Australia better with Scott Boland instead of Josh Hazlewood? [Credit: Getty]

There is no denying that Josh Hazlewood has been among Australia's all-time greats across formats, especially Test cricket. Yet, Australia's best moments in Tests over the last two years have come in his absence.

It is worth remembering that the 34-year-old missed Australia's triumphant WTC 2023 final against India due to injury, with his replacement Scott Boland producing a game-changing five wickets in the contest. Fast-forward to Australia's more recent Test series against India at home, and the 2023 champions enjoyed better results in Hazlewood's absence.

The Aussies lost the series opener in Perth and settled for a draw in the third Test at Brisbane, both of which Hazlewood was part of the 11. However, Boland replaced him for the other three Tests, all of which Australia won comfortably.

Hazlewood is again coming off an injury sustained at the fag end of the IPL, but he played the playoffs and helped the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) win their maiden title. Australia have trusted a man with 279 wickets over an in-form Boland for this all-important WTC final against the Proteas.

Yet, if Australia suffer defeat in the final, uncomfortable questions about the champion pacer cannot be denied.

# 3 Battle of veteran spinners

Nathan Lyon will look to climb up the all-time list for Test wickets in the WTC final [Credit: Getty]

All the talk surrounding the WTC final 2025 has been about the pace attacks of both sides and other individual bowler-batter matchups. The South Africa-Australia rivalry, the polar opposite narratives of both teams in ICC knockout games, and a matchup like Kagiso Rabada vs Pat Cummins has been on everyone's minds.

Yet, the outcome could come down to the battle of the two veteran spinners - Nathan Lyon and Keshav Maharaj. The former is the seventh most successful Test bowler of all time with 553 scalps in 137 outings.

Meanwhile, Maharaj has been the glue in the South African Test side over the last decade with 198 wickets in 57 games.

If the Lord's pitch offers enough for the pacers and the seamers from both teams play to a draw, the winner of the Mahajaj-Lyon battle could determine who holds the WTC trophy aloft at the end of the contest.