The grand stage of the World Test Championship Final is set once again, this time with two sides who have battled through contrasting paths — Australia, the defending champions, and South Africa, the perennial contenders chasing their first taste of ICC silverware. The Oval in London will witness not just a clash of cricketing heavyweights but a collision of legacies, ambitions, and long-standing narratives. While Australia brings with it a core steeped in big-match temperament, South Africa arrives with a team built on quiet resolve and untapped potential. What can be some things to look forward to as fans?
Travis Head, the Big-Stage Run Machine
In major finals and high-pressure matches, Travis Head has carved out a reputation as Australia’s go-to man. He was the Player of the Match in the 2023 WTC Final against India, scoring a game-changing 163 in the first innings. He followed it up with another match-winning century in the ODI World Cup final the same year, also against India. In South Africa’s semi-final defeat in the 2023 World Cup, it was Head again who broke their back with the bat. Few players in the world have impacted multiple knockout games in the same year like Head has. But recently in the IPL 2025, he hasn’t been in great touch; his temperament is never a problem, but his form can be. But if Head gets going, South Africa could see another heartbreak coming.
Scott Boland: The Specialist for the Grand Occasion
When Australia needs a bowler who doesn’t feel pressure, they turn to Scott Boland. No room for disagreements when we glorify Starc, Cummins, and Haelwood. But when nothing works out for the Kangaroos, Boland steps up and flies the stumps. He’s played only a handful of Tests, but almost all of them have come in high-stakes matches, including the last WTC Final and two Ashes Tests in England. In the 2023 WTC Final, he took five wickets, including two vital ones in a single over to dismiss Gill and Kohli. His average in Test cricket still hovers under 20, and his ability to extract subtle movement on good pitches gives Australia a key edge, especially with the Dukes ball in England. So if Proteas survives the starting spells of Starc, Cummins, and Hazelwood, their breaths would still be heavy because Boland would never be left behind.
Kagiso Rabada’s Dominance Against Australia
Kagiso Rabada has a storied record against Australia — 38 wickets in 10 Tests at an average of 20.68. He has dismissed Steve Smith six times in Test cricket, the joint-most by any bowler. Rabada’s pace, aggression, and control make him South Africa’s strike weapon, especially with a Dukes ball that offers movement for longer spells. Rabada has not played as much Test cricket recently due to injury management, but he remains the most experienced and impactful member of the South African attack in English conditions.
Midfield Clash of Styles: Bedingham vs Green
David Bedingham and Cameron Green represent a fascinating sub-plot in the middle order. Bedingham has been South Africa’s revelation since his Test debut in 2023, averaging over 55 in his first eight Tests and scoring runs in varied conditions, including a gritty 87 at Newlands against India. Green, meanwhile, is Australia’s all-format all-rounder, capable of swinging the ball at 140+ and shifting gears with the bat. Their presence adds balance to their respective XIs, but also brings contrast — Bedingham’s classical technique versus Green’s all-round dynamism. Their performances could shape the middle overs in a match expected to swing with every session.
Nathan Lyon’s Quiet Hunt for a Landmark
While Australia’s fast bowlers often command the spotlight, Nathan Lyon continues to stitch history in quieter tones. With 546 Test wickets, Lyon stands on the verge of surpassing Courtney Walsh (519) and Glenn McGrath (563) as one of the top five wicket-takers in Test cricket history. In the 2023 WTC Final, he played a pivotal supporting role, and his ability to maintain relentless accuracy in unhelpful conditions often opens the door for others. Against a South African side that has struggled against quality spin in recent series, including their 2022 loss in Australia, Lyon’s presence could be crucial, especially in the fourth innings when the pitch turns tired. In a final where every session matters, Lyon could quietly script one of the defining chapters.
For Australia, it’s a chance to reinforce their dominance in the red-ball era; for South Africa, it’s about altering the arc of a history that’s long demanded a triumph of this scale. Amidst the crackle of English summer and the weight of expectations, the WTC Final promises more than just five days of cricket — it promises closure, redemption, and perhaps, the beginning of a new chapter in Test folklore.
