🏏ICC WTC Finals: Aus vs SA at Lords, 11 - 15 June 25 - Day 4🏏 - Page 2

South Africa - A superlative Dean Elgar century in his penultimate Test gave them a winning start against India, but they were bamboozled on a spicy Cape Town pitch shortly after for the series to be squared. Then came the ‘infamous’ Neil Brand leg Protean side that travelled to New Zealand in the midst of the 2024 SA20, practically surrendering a series. A feisty win in the Caribbean followed with Markram’s battling fifty, and then a sub-continent clean sweep over Bangladesh thanks to Maharaj and Muthusamy. Then came Temba leading from the front against Sri Lanka for a home triumph, followed by an uncharacteristic Rabada and Jansen rearguard against Pakistan to send the Proteas towards the promised land. Fewer games? Yes! Easier fixtures? Maybe. But this South African team could only win what’s in front of them, and they have authentically earned their right now to be in this final!

Australia - Pat Cummins’ clutch closure at Edgbaston and Bairstow strolling out his crease at Lord’s gave Australia a 2-0 lead to sullen the Bazball hype in 2023. But England stormed back with the Stuart Broad bail-switcheroo in his parting Test to level the series. Then came a 3-0 dismantling of Pakistan as David Warner walked off onto the Sydney sunset. Up next was that Shamar Joseph Test match, as Australia were rattled by pace to draw a home series against West Indies. A clean sweep over New Zealand followed with Carey and Cummins coming up clutch again. Then the home Tests to India where they were Bumrah’d in the first Test, but they fought back with Travis Head’s ton and Konstas the Indian kryptonite, while Boland and Starc nicked off the Indian batters for fun. The BGT triumph was capped off later with a Lankan lambast, as Lyon, Kuhnemann and Murphy picked wickets for fun, while Khawaja got back amongst the runs. They’ve bossed their way through this cycle, outplaying most and outwitting a few to rightly challenge for the mace once again.

It's toss time. South Africa win the toss and bowl Bavuma says the surface looks good but overhead conditions dictate that they bowl first. "I think we have selected the best team for these conditions. Massive [occasion]. You can hear the South African accents as well in the stands. Should be a spectacle". Cummins says they are happy to bat first. "Preparation has been unreal. All the guys in the team are ready to go. Everyone's come together and we have had about ten days of preparation. I don't think there's any extra pressure. We've been here before and won it. So it's just about going out and enjoying it."

Here are the teams:

South Africa : 1 Aiden Markram, 2 Ryan Rickleton, 3 Wiaan Mulder, 4 Temba Bavuma (capt), 5 Tristan Stubbs, 6 David Bedingham, 7 Kyle Verreynne, 8 Marco Jansen, 9 Keshav Maharaj, 10 Kagiso Rabada, 11 Lungi Ngidi

Australia: 1 Usman Khawaja, 2 Marnus Labuschagne, 3 Cameron Green, 4 Steven Smith, 5 Travis Head, 6 Beau Webster, 7 Alex Carey (wk), 8 Pat Cummins (capt), 9 Mitchell Starc, 10 Nathan Lyon, 11 Josh Hazlewood

Pat Cummins: Happy to bat first. Looks like a good wicket with a few clouds, but that's always the case in England. Prep wise it has been unreal, 15 guys working very hard for that title. (On the hectic schedule) You get used to it the more you are playing, we have had about 10 days prep and we are ready. Doesn't feel like any extra pressure. We've been here before and we've won it. This week is all about enjoying the moment.

Pitch Report | Nasser Hussain and Stuart Broad: It is cloudy out here with a breeze blowing. Very slight chance of rain. It is a 63m hit to the leg side, and 67m for the other side. Longer straight boundaries. The clouds are intriguing this morning. It looks like a good pitch that will play evenly throughout. Day 2 would be a great day to bat. The captain will have a big decision to make. They tend to bowl first but batting first has historically been more successful. You need to get used to the Lord’s slope early and get your lines right early - move the ball towards the stumps. The nerves and adrenaline will be there, but players need to settle early.

Thanks for the tag and the post.

All the best to both the teams 🤍🤍

South Africa won the toss and will bowl first.

As usual overcast conditions n England.

Sanket: "Very very good toss to win by SA here. With Marnus opening and Green slotting at 3, this Aus top order seems unsettled one. Their whole strength lies in that Smith and Head pair, so South Africa needs to make that new ball count and get this pair in the middle as early as possible. if SA manages to keep this duo calm they will have huge advantage in the game"

"Australia have EIGHT bowlers: Cummins, Starc, Hazlewood, Green, Webster, Lyon, Head, Labuschagne! Nine if you count Smith!" Green is not available to bowl in this game as he is still recovering from his back surgery. He is not expected to bowl in games until the start of the Sheffield Shield season in October ahead of the Ashes.