Steve Smith vs Temba Bavuma - comparing their Test stats after 63 Tests ahead of WTC 2025 Final

Australia will clash with South Africa in the WTC 2025 final from June 11 to 15 at the Lord's cricket ground in London. In their pursuit of winning the ultimate prize, Steve Smith and Temba Bavuma will play crucial roles for their respective sides.

Smith made his Test debut in July 2010 and grew into one of the all-time greats in the format. He has amassed 10,271 runs at an average of 56.71, with 41 fifties and 36 centuries.

Meanwhile, Bavuma forayed into the Test format in 2014, and is now leading the South African side due to his ability to endure long hours and consistent contributions.

On that note, let's take a look at how Temba Bavuma has fared in comparison to Steve Smith after their first 63 Tests.

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#1 Runs

Player	Matches	Innings	Runs
Steve Smith	63	115	6,187
Temba Bavuma	63	108	3,606

Steve Smith had garnered 6,187 runs in 115 innings until this point in his illustrious Test career. The finest year for Smith came in 2015, when he slammed 1,474 runs, with six centuries and five fifties.

South Africa skipper Temba Bavuma has accumulated 3,606 runs in 108 innings. Notably, his highest tally of 609 runs came in 2017.

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#2 Average

Player	Innings	Average	50/100
Steve Smith	115	46.85	24/23
Temba Bavuma	108	37.96	24/4

In his first 63 Tests, Steve Smith held an impressive average of 46.85. He displayed sensational consistency in terms of 70+ averages from 2014 to 2017. He registered a phenomenal average of 81.86 in 2014, with five tons and four half-centuries.

Notably, Smith was already on the path to greatness, having hit 24 fifties and 23 hundreds until March 2018.

Temba Bavuma holds an average of 37.96 so far in his Test career. The Proteas batter has hit 24 fifties and four centuries. Bavuma held the best average of 55.89 in 2024, where he hit a solitary century and four fifties.

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#3 Runs on foreign soil

Player	Matches (away soil)	Innings	Runs	Average	50/100
Steve Smith	35	67	3,093	50.70	15/10
Temba Bavuma	27	49	1,459	31.72	11/0

Steve Smith had played 35 games on away soil in his first 63 Tests. The Australian batter had scored 3,093 runs at an average of 50.70, with 15 fifties and 10 centuries.

Smith's finest knock of 215 came against England at Lord's in 2015, which also propelled Australia to a 405-run win.

In 27 games outside South Africa, Temba Bavuma has accumulated 1,459 runs at an average of 31.72. In these games, he has scored 11 fifties, with a best knock of 89 against New Zealand at Basin Reserve in 2017.

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#4 Contributions in a winning cause

Player	Total Runs	Runs in a winning cause	% of runs in winning cause	50/100
Steve Smith	6,187	3,542	57.24	13/15
Temba Bavuma	3,606	2,093	58.04	15/3

Steve Smith had contributed 3,542 runs in a winning cause until this point in his red-ball career. The tally accounts for 57.24% of his total runs and includes 15 centuries. Smith played his best-ever Test knock of 239 against England in Perth in 2017.

It is worth noting that Steve Smith produced scores of 144 & 142 during the Edgbaston Test in 2019 against England. His contributions resulted in Australia winning by 251 runs.

Temba Bavuma has scored 2,093 runs in a winning cause, which is 58.04% of his total runs. During this period, he has scored 15 fifties and three centuries.

Bavuma's top score of 172 came in March 2023 against West Indies, which eventually helped the side to win by 284 runs.

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Conclusion

Steve Smith clearly emerges as the winner in his head-to-head contest against Temba Bavuma. The former Australia skipper displayed terrific consistency in converting his starts into big knocks. He also fared far better in terms of his performances on foreign soil.

Although Bavuma has done well, he has not matched the consistency and big scores of Smith.