SA vs AUS Match Prediction: Who will win today's 2025 WTC final?

Australia and South Africa are two sides with a rich red-ball heritage, making them fitting finalists for the 2025 World Test Championship (WTC). Pat Cummins is looking to add another feather to his captaincy cap, while Temba Bavuma has a golden opportunity to script history in the early stages of his Test captaincy career, achieving something that all of his legendary predecessors have failed to do so.

Both teams would have loved more time to be better prepared for such a monumental occasion, but considering the circumstances, they would be raring to go. South Africa's hopes are pinned on their bowling unit, which is a far more experienced unit than their batting setup.

For Australia, it is clear to them and the rest of the world that if they play their best game, or something even remotely close to it, they might end up victors.

South Africa (Playing XI): Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton, Wiaan Mulder, Temba Bavuma(c), Tristan Stubbs, David Bedingham, Kyle Verreynne(w), Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi

Australia (Playing XI): Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Cameron Green, Steven Smith, Travis Head, Beau Webster, Alex Carey(w), Pat Cummins(c), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood

#1 Australia's stability and match winners gives them a major advantage in WTC Final

This is Australia's second WTC Final in a row, and the only minor changes they have had to make in a two-year span stem from David Warner's retirement, Mitchell Marsh's injury concerns and the perennial Hazlewood-Boland switch. With a strong core that has already tasted success before, one that includes some of the best red-ball players of this generation, it would be foolish not to count Australia as firm favorites going in.

Granted, there is a bit of uncertainty in the restructured top order, with Marnus Labuschagne opening and Cameron Green coming at No. 3. But the former's record and extensive experience in England, coupled with the latter's recent purple patch, should be enough for the sublime middle order to work its magic.

With two formidable match-winners in the middle order in Steve Smith and Travis Head, followed by a couple more in the bowling unit that work like clockwork, Australia have the makings of a championship side once again.

In comparison, South Africa do not have big, proven names on their side, making them the ideal underdogs. The lack of playing top sides away from home in the recent cycle may also come back to haunt them. In a way, the Proteas will have to play out of their skin to compensate for the lack of match-winners and stability.

The South African side are promising without a doubt, but they have not done enough for too long, like Australia, to be considered a major threat. There are still major question marks over the No. 3 spot occupied by Wiaan Mulder rather than Tony de Zorzi. The same goes for Tristan Stubbs' and David Bedingham's consistency in the middle order.

The Proteas head into the fixture with immense hunger and potential, but they might have to pull off a generational performance to play spoilsport to Cummins and co's potential Last Dance.

#2 South Africa have a "on their day" vibe about them which cannot be discounted

South Africa's progress into the WTC Final was marred by the calls of 'easy draw', but beyond that, it was a cycle where a lot had transpired, a transition within a transition, so to speak. Dean Elgar retired after the first series itself, and under Temba Bavuma, the Proteas have found a new identity.

New names like Tristan Stubbs, Dane Paterson, Wiaan Mulder, and Tony de Zorzi have all been integrated. Not to say that all have been resounding successes, clicking from day one onwards, but they have shown a lot of heart and character.

But the new guard, along with the existing stalwarts on the side, have the potential to turn up on the given day, given what is at stake. Despite a relatively easier fixture list compared to the rest, the Proteas did have their jittery moments. They had lost three of their first four matches, two against New Zealand while fielding a second-string side.

But since then, the team has not turned back. A streak of seven Test wins is hardly a fluke, irrespective of home comfort or the quality of the opposition. They have shown an indomitable spirit to produce excellent cricket at times, but more importantly, to scrape through at times.

While South Africa may not have the laurels that Australian players do, the fact that they have potential for individuals to step up, and everyone else chipping in, means that they will be all-in for a scrap.

#3 South Africa rely on preparation while Australia rely on reputation

South Africa have had the services of their players right from the IPL Playoffs when they were recalled from national duty. The Proteas played a warm-up fixture against Zimbabwe to adjust to the English conditions, where they last played in 2022, during the early days of Bazball.

Australia, on the other hand, are much more familiar with England, having begun their cycle there through the 2023 Ashes. Moreover, several of their players were actively involved in the County Championship recently like Marnus Labuschagne, Beau Webster and Cameron Green. Many of their players are also mostly focused on one format, and have had ample time to be prepared. But, in terms of a real-time game, the Men in Yellow have not had much of it.

There is no one right way to approach the game in terms of preparation, but the contrasting routes that these two teams have taken paints a distinct picture.

All in all, ahead of the contest, it looks like that for Australia it is going to be yet another case of "been there, done that", while South Africa have to remain content with another rendition of just "been there".