Latest news with #WTC)Final
The Hindu
6 days ago
- Sport
- The Hindu
Australia squad for West Indies Test series: Sean Abbott replaces injured Doggett
Australia has been dealt with an injury blow ahead of the three-match Test series in West Indies, with fast bowler Brendan Doggett ruled out due to a hip issue. The 31-year-old uncapped player has been replaced by Sean Abbott, who is also uncapped in the longest format of the game, though he has played 48 white-ball games for Australia. Both players were part of the squad for the World Test Championship (WTC) Final against South Africa but didn't feature in the Playing XI. Australia is also sweating on the fitness of Steven Smith, who dislocated his finger during the WTC Final while attempting to take a catch. The three-match series in the Caribbean will mark the beginning of the WTC 2025-27 campaign for both sides. Australia's Test squad: Pat Cummins (c), Sean Abbott, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Matt Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Beau Webster.
News18
6 days ago
- Sport
- News18
Marnus Labuschagne Likely To Be Dropped After WTC Final, Coach Hints
Last Updated: Marnus Labuschagne is facing the axe after his failures in the WTC Final against South Africa despite a switch in the batting position. After Australia's five-wicket loss to South Africa in the 2025 World Test Championship (WTC) Final at Lord's on Saturday, head coach Andrew McDonald has hinted at possible changes to the top order, including a likely snub for Marnus Labuschagne, ahead of the new cycle starting in the West Indies. Labuschagne was promoted to open alongside Usman Khawaja for the first time to accommodate all-rounder Cameron Green at number three. However, this strategy failed as Labuschagne failed to convert stars, continuing his poor form, while both Khawaja and Green struggled even more. 'It was a big discussion leading into this Test match, and I was on the record a couple of weeks ago talking about the need to bed down that opening combination," McDonald told the media. 'We've had a bit of musical chairs there, so it might be the time. But as we sit here right now, you got to say that South Africa were better in this Test match. We've got to look at the improvements that we need to make. There's no doubt about that." Mostly batting at number three, Labuschagne averaged just 27.82 in the 2023-25 WTC cycle. McDonald gave a mixed answered on his form, saying that though Australia value him and are 'confident' he could be back to his best, 'most players get dropped' at some point. 'Anyone that averages 45, 46 in Test cricket at that age is important," the coach said. 'We've got older players there that are closer to the end than the start. We've got some younger players that are coming in. If he can get his game in good order for the next four or five years, he can underpin that batting order. But at the moment, he'd be disappointed with the returns. He's missed out on big scores. But we're confident that he could return to his best, and hence why we keep picking him. And at what point do we stop picking him? I think most players across their journey get dropped at some point in time. I think he had a positive week here where he worked on the right things and had a great prep. There's no harder worker than Marnus. Now it's really just about the returns. And at the moment, as I said, he'd be disappointed," he elaborated. Regarding Khawaja, McDonald was more certain and clear with his backing, hinting the left-hander could be given a similar opportunity to David Warner when he was nearing the end of his Test career. 'He's on contract; he's an important player. He gives us stability at his best at the top. And we like to look at our players at their best. No doubt, a couple of failures here, and people then start to talk about maybe it's the end. I don't see an end date with the way he's training, the way he's preparing, and the way he's moving. He went back to Shield cricket and got 100 last (season). So I think he's got plenty of runs left in him. It'll come down to his inner drive and the way he prepares." 'It was a bit the same with Davey as well. The way he moved, we saw some positives in that. We knew that the runs were around the corner. We feel as though Usman's got a big part to play," he concluded. (With IANS Inputs) First Published: June 15, 2025, 13:55 IST
Time of India
14-06-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
WTC final: Virat Kohli's 7-year-old praise tweet for Aiden Markram resurfaces — Can South Africa hold on or will they choke vs Australia?
Aiden Markram appears to have played one of the finest knocks of his Test career in the World Test Championship (WTC) Final. Facing Australia, he remained unbeaten on 102* by the end of Day 3, bringing South Africa just 69 runs away from clinching their first ICC title since 1998. As fans dare to hope that the Proteas will finally lift the trophy, a seven-year-old tweet from Virat Kohli has resurfaced — and it feels eerily prophetic. Virat Kohli's tweet that aged well It turns out Markram had already caught Kohli's attention back in early 2018, when he scored a gritty 84 against Australia in Cape Town. Though he already had a few Test centuries to his name, it was that knock that stood out to Kohli — prompting the now-viral tweet. "Aiden Markram is a delight to watch!" — Virat Kohli wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter) in 2018. Aiden Markram is a delight to watch! Fast-forward to 2025, and Markram is once again making headlines — this time with a potential title-winning innings on the grandest stage in Test cricket. A golden chance for South Africa South Africa has spent nearly 30 years chasing an ICC trophy, with their journey marked by heartbreak and missed opportunities. Despite fielding world-class squads across generations, the team has often fallen short in crucial moments — earning the painful tag of "chokers" on the global stage. But this time, the atmosphere feels different. With eight wickets in hand, and Markram well-set at one end while captain Temba Bavuma stands firm on 65 at the other, the Proteas are closer than ever to rewriting their legacy. And to do it by defeating the defending champions Australia would make the moment even more historic. Indeed !!! Can the Proteas finally finish the job? Still, some fans remain skeptical. Many on X pointed out how South Africa lost the final of the 2024 ICC T20 World Cup to India despite being in a winning position. The team has endured so many close calls that even now, with victory in sight, supporters are keeping their fingers crossed — hoping that this time, the Proteas can finally bring it home. Tommorow scenes after winning WTC final #WtcFinal2025 Don't celebrate too South Africa choked from this position in the final 😭😭 Markram needs to get his full 8 hours of sleep tonight. Tomorrow we score a match winning ton. SA vs AUS: Teams South Africa (Playing XI): Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, Temba Bavuma(c), David Bedingham, Kyle Verreynne(w), Wiaan Mulder, 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
NDTV
12-06-2025
- Sport
- NDTV
1st Time In 145 Years: Australia vs SA WTC Final Witnesses Bizarre Event After Pacers' Show
The first day of the World Test Championship (WTC) Final between South Africa and Australia at Lord's was marked by some superlative bowling performances from both sides. For the Proteas, Kagiso Rabada picked a five-wicket haul while Marco Jansen took three as Australia were all out for 212. The Australian pacers breathed fire too in the final session as Mitchell Starc picked two wickets while Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood got one each to reduce South Africa to 43/4 at stumps on Day 1. The WTC Final Day 1 was also witness to a bizarre first in 145 years, i.e., since the format was first played in England (1880, England vs Australia, The Oval). The WTC Final was the first instance in 561 Tests in England that the No.1 batter (according to batting order) from both sides were dismissed for 0 in their first innings of the game. On Wednesday, Australia's Usman Khawaja and South Africa's Aiden Markram were the two men. Hence, it became the first such instance in 145 years. Overall, it was the 10th time in Test history that such a thing has happened. Talking about the star of the day, Kagiso Rabada delivered a sensational performance, not only dismantling the opposition with a five-wicket haul but also etching his name deeper into South African cricket history. Rabada claimed figures of 5/51 in 15.4 overs, helping bowl Australia out for 212. His fiery spell was instrumental in shifting the momentum in South Africa's favour during a crucial phase of the match at Lord's. With this performance, Rabada surpassed legendary fast bowler Allan Donald in the list of South Africa's highest wicket-takers in Test cricket. The 30-year-old now has 332 wickets in 71 Tests, overtaking Donald's tally of 330 wickets in 72 matches. Rabada now sits fourth on the all-time list of South African Test wicket-takers. His five-wicket haul also earned him a rare spot in the record books. Rabada became only the second bowler to take a five-for in a WTC final, following New Zealand's Kyle Jamieson, who achieved the feat against India in the 2021 final. Additionally, Rabada became just the second South African bowler after Jacques Kallis, who took 5/30 in the ICC Knockout Trophy final in 1998, to register a five-wicket haul in the final of a major ICC tournament. Rabada's overall record in knockout matches at ICC events continues to impress. He now has 11 wickets in five such matches, at an excellent average of 19.27. His five-for at Lord's on Wednesday is now his best performance in an ICC knockout game, taking him to third on South Africa's all-time list of wicket-takers in ICC knockouts, behind Jacques Kallis (14), and tied with Shaun Pollock and Allan Donald (12 each). Lord's has been a happy hunting ground for Rabada. In just three Tests at the venue, he has now picked up 18 wickets at a staggering average of 16.83 and a strike rate of 30.2. With his performance against Australia, he also moved ahead of Morne Morkel (15 wickets) to become the South African with the most Test wickets at Lord's. Furthermore, he became only the third South African bowler to take multiple five-wicket hauls at the historic ground, joining the elite company of Allan Donald and Makhaya Ntini.
India.com
11-06-2025
- Sport
- India.com
Travis Head On The Brink Of Breaking Ajinkya Rahanes ‘THIS' WTC Final Record Against South Africa
Travis Head, who played a match-defining knock in the 2023 ICC World Test Championship (WTC) Final, is once again at the center of attention as Australia takes on South Africa in the WTC 2025 Final at the iconic Lord's Cricket Ground. The Australian left-hander is on the verge of breaking a notable record held by Indian veteran Ajinkya Rahane. As the much-anticipated final gets underway, South Africa won the toss and elected to bowl first, putting Australia's top order, including Head, under the spotlight from the very beginning. With Australia batting first, all eyes are on Travis Head, who needs just 19 runs to surpass Rahane and become the leading run-scorer in WTC Finals history. For context, Ajinkya Rahane has scored a total of 199 runs in four innings across two WTC Finals, making him the top scorer in summit clashes of the tournament so far. Travis Head, on the other hand, has already notched up 181 runs in just two innings, including a sensational 163-run knock against India in the 2023 final. That innings not only led Australia to a commanding victory but also earned Head the Player of the Match award. Players with the most runs in the WTC Final Ajinkya Rahane 199 Travis Head 181 Steve Smith 155 Rohit Sharma 122 Virat Kohli 120 Now, with form, confidence, and the opportunity on his side, Travis Head is well-positioned to rewrite the record books. If he manages to score at least 19 runs in the ongoing final, he will cement his place as the most prolific batter in WTC Final history, a remarkable achievement in the highest format of the game. As the final unfolds at Lord's, cricket fans around the world will be watching closely to see if Head can rise to the occasion once more and etch his name in WTC history.
