Predicting the 3 highest wicket-takers in SA vs AUS 2025 WTC final ft. Mitchell Starc

The 2025 World Test Championship (WTC) final is all set to commence from Wednesday, June 11, at the iconic Lord's cricket ground in London. South Africa and Australia will battle it out for the ultimate prize in Test cricket.

South Africa finished at the top of the WTC points table for this cycle with eight wins from 12 matches and 69.44 percentage points. Australia finished second with 13 wins from 19 matches and 67.54 percentage points.

South Africa last played Pakistan in a two-match Test series at home and won 2-0 to seal their place in the final. Meanwhile, Australia's last Test series was against Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka, where they also won 2-0.

Both teams have solid bowling units with a wealth of experience and firepower. While the batters will be in focus, the bowlers will hold the key as taking 20 wickets is needed to win a Test match.

That said, here are three bowlers who could end up taking the most wickets in the 2025 WTC final between South Africa and Australia.

---

#3 Nathan Lyon

Australia Training - ICC World Test Championship Final 2025 - Source: Getty

Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon has established himself among the best in the business when it comes to the longest format of the game. The 37-year-old has been a consistent performer for Australia over the years in all conditions, both home and away.

Lyon is the fourth highest-wicket taker in the 2023-2025 WTC cycle with 66 scalps from 16 matches at an average of 24.00 and a strike-rate of 46.62 with six four-wicket hauls and a five-wicket haul. He was also the second-highest wicket-taker in the last series against Sri Lanka with 14 scalps from two games.

While pacers are likely to call the shots in the opening days of the final, spinners will come into play as the game progresses, particularly on the last two days. Nathan Lyon will thus have a major role to play with the ball.

---

#2 Marco Jansen

South Africa & Australia Training - ICC World Test Championship Final 2025 - Source: Getty

South African pacer Marco Jansen will be another bowler to watch out for in the 2025 WTC final. The tall left-arm seamer should benefit from the conditions early on with his ability to move the ball both ways and generate extra bounce off the surface.

Jansen picked up 29 wickets from six games in the 2023-2025 cycle at an average of 20.82 and a strike-rate of 33.17. The 25-year-old can also make good use of the slope at Lord's.

In the recently concluded IPL 2025 season, Jansen displayed good form playing for Punjab Kings (PBKS), bagging 16 wickets. Although it is a completely different format, he will look to carry confidence from the same into this game.

---

#1 Mitchell Starc

Australia Training - ICC World Test Championship Final 2025 - Source: Getty

Australian quick Mitchell Starc is arguably his team's biggest asset in Engish conditions. The experienced campaigner has delivered under pressure on the biggest of stages more often than not. Similar to Jansen, Starc will look to exploit the seam-friendly conditions and the slope at Lord's by bowling accurate lines and lengths.

Starc is the third-highest overall and second-highest wicket-taker for Australia in the 2023-2025 WTC cycle with 72 scalps from 18 matches at an average of 27.27 and a strike-rate of 42.52. All of Starc's experience will be needed as Australia look to defend their WTC title against South Africa, who are appearing in the final for the first time.