3 things South Africa need to do right to beat Australia in WTC final 2025 ft. Break Steve Smith's love affair with Lord's

South Africa and ICC tournaments have redefined terminologies like 'sad endings' and 'heartbreak'. Despite boasting some of the strongest sides on paper entering ICC events, the Proteas have fallen short of ultimate glory in unfathomable ways.

Yet, they will have another opportunity to right the wrongs of the past by winning only their second ICC title. It will be their first taste of an ICC final in the Test format when they take on the all-conquering Australians in the 2025 World Test Championship (WTC) at Lord's, starting June 11.

The Proteas were never the betting favorites to reach the WTC final after years of poor performances. However, they overcame all odds by finishing on top of the 2023-25 WTC standings, winning eight out of 12 matches to end on 100 points.

The ultimate test for Temba Bavuma's men is only getting started, considering their past knockout jitters and the opposition they are up against. Australia are the defending WTC champions, having decimated India in the 2023 final at the Oval by 209 runs.

The Aussies have often been the polar opposite of South Africa in big ICC games, with the unmatched ability to rise to the occasion and produce their best. Nevertheless, there is always a first time to rewrite scripts, and South Africa must view the upcoming clash as a golden opportunity to turn the tide.

For that, South Africa must do three key things in the WTC 2025 final against Australia as follows:

#1 Prevent another Steve Smith 'Home Run' at the home of cricket

Steve Smith has scored runs for fun at Lord's in Tests. [Credit: Getty]

Veteran batter Steve Smith has been inarguably the best Test batter of this generation, with over 10,000 runs at an average of almost 57, including 36 centuries. If those numbers are extraordinary, South Africa may want to avoid looking at Smith's Test record at the home of cricket, Lord's.

If his first Test at the venue in 2010, when he was more a bowler than a batter, is removed, the 36-year-old averages an incredible 73.14 in four Tests. Smith has two centuries and as many half-centuries in seven Test innings at Lord's.

It makes South Africa's task very clear - 'Dismiss Smith early to hold any chance of winning the WTC title'. Yet, achieving the same is no easy feat, considering the Aussie veteran's appetite for runs and ability to deliver when the stakes are the highest.

However, the Proteas have a couple of trump cards to prevent Steve Smith from running riot. Ace pacer Kagiso Rabada has dismissed the champion Aussie batter four times in Tests, with Smith averaging only 32.

The bigger surprise has been left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj's success against Smith in Tests. The wily spinner has dismissed the former Australian captain four times, with the veteran batter averaging 33.

South Africa must discard all other pre-match plans when Smith enters the batting crease and ensure one or both Rabada and Maharaja are bowling to him from the get-go.

#2 South Africa's WTC 2023-25 MVP must deliver again

South Africa will hope their captain comes up clutch at Lord's [Credit: Getty]

South African captain Temba Bavuma has the opportunity to achieve something several legends of the past have never come close to - winning an ICC world title. However, for that dream to become reality, the right-hander must do what he has done throughout the 2023-25 WTC cycle - hold the Proteas batting together.

Bavuma was South Africa's Most Valuable Player (MVP) in their run to the final, averaging over 60 in seven Tests with two centuries and four half-centuries. The Proteas skipper often led from the front with the bat in challenging home conditions to be the point of difference between them and their opponents.

Regarded as one of the best batters against the moving ball, Bavuma's ability to bat time and thwart the veteran Australian pacers could determine the outcome of a potentially low-scoring contest.

The 35-year-old boasts fairly impressive numbers against the Aussies, with an average of over 40 in eight Tests. Another captain's knock in the final, resulting in a South African win, would be the perfect way for Bavuma to sign off on a sensational two-year run in Tests.

#3 Turn Australia's 'experience advantage' with the ball into an endurance battle

Australia boast the most successful Test bowling attack in world cricket. [Credit: Getty]

It is a no-brainer that Australia hold a massive advantage in experience and pedigree with the ball, compared to their South African counterparts. With Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and Nathan Lyon, Australia have a bowling attack that has conquered it all with over 1,500 wickets between them.

While South Africa have their own veterans with Rabada and Maharaj, the rest of the attack is low on big-game experience and overall pedigree. Yet, the Proteas must remember the four Aussie bowlers likely to play are all above 30, with plenty of mileage under their legs.

The South African batting game plan must center around resisting the temptation to go hard and play the waiting game to wear out the aging Aussie attack. It is something India did to perfection the last time Australia lost a Test match - the opening game of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in 2024.

Openers KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal displayed tremendous discipline to play out 63 overs without losing their wickets. The resolve seemingly shook the Aussies the rest of the way as they folded to a massive 295-run defeat. Australia's slightly indecisive and out-of-form batting lineup feeds off their gun bowling attack, doing a number on opposition teams.

Hence, if the Proteas batters can deny them early wickets and keep them on the field longer than usual, the ripple effect for the rest of the match could be telling.