South Africa v Australia: World Test Championship final preview

The third World Test Championship final takes place at Lord's starting on Wednesday 11th June and it sees holders Australia trying to retain their crown by defeating South Africa.

The Baggy Green thrashed India by 209 runs at The Oval two years ago to secure to title, while the Proteas have made the final for the first time, with the inaugural final in 2021 having seen New Zealand defeat India by eight wickets.

Veteran Aussie fast bowler Josh Hazlewood is hoping to win the nod after recent fitness problems, having also missed the final two years ago, meaning that the holders have at least one tricky decision to make.

South Africa v Australia betting preview

Australia ready to defend their crown

Australia under Pat Cummins come into this one-off occasion as the 1.44 hot fancies to win the match, having won 13 of the 19 Test matches they have played in this WTC cycle, including all of their last four, while they are unbeaten in their last six.

Their last two victories came in Sri Lanka are were heavily down to superb slow bowling from evergreen off-spin great Nathan Lyon and left-armer Matt Kuhnemann, but the latter is unlikely to feature at Lord's.

Scott Boland finished the home series victory against India in superb form and he may just have done enough to earn the nod ahead of the fit-again Hazlewood, with captain Cummins and Mitchell Starc certain to lead the attack.

At 36 Boland is certain no newcomer and he has been restricted to just 13 Test appearances to date, but his record reads a superb 56 wickets at an average of 17.66, with his nagging line and length seemingly ideally suited to English conditions.

Hazlewood, of course, has been truly world-class for many years, so the decision to be made by head coach Andrew McDonald is a massively tricky one, although neither bowler is likely to let the side down.

With the bat, the veteran trio of Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne and Steven Smith all seem to have rediscovered some form in recent times, with Smith registering four centuries across his last eight innings.

All-rounder Cameron Green, who will be unable to bowl, is set to return to the top six, with teenage sensation Sam Konstas, Beau Webster and Josh Inglis all facing waits to see if they are selected for the big occasion.

Proteas put themselves back on Test map

South Africa are very much surprise finalists, with India, England and New Zealand all having hoped to be at the Home of Cricket this week.

However, the Proteas are there very much on merit, having won all of their last seven Test matches, although it does need pointing out that they have come against West Indies, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Pakistan.

Indeed South Africa have not faced either England or Australian during this WTC cycle, while a two-match series in New Zealand in early 2024 ended in two heavy defeats to the Black Caps.

Left-hand wicketkeeper-batter Ryan Rickelton scored 259 against Pakistan in his most recent Test innings so will definitely be a player the Aussies will want to see the back of, while the Proteas are seemingly always well blessed with seam bowling options.

Leader of the pack is right-arm pacer Kagiso Rabada, who has 327 Test wickets to his name from 70 outings, including 49 wickets at 23.08 against the Baggy Green.

He is sure to be ably supported by tall left-armer Marco Jansen, who has taken 73 wickets at 21.76 in the 17 Test matches he has played to date, with the 25-year-old also a useful lower-order right-hand batter.

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South Africa v Australia odds

South Africa - 3.60
Australia - 1.44
Draw - 11.00

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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.