The stage is set for the ICC World Test Championship 2025 final between Australia and South Africa, taking place at the historic Lord’s Cricket Ground. Key players to watch include former Australian captain Steve Smith and South African captain Temba Bavuma, who have been impactful for their respective teams during this WTC cycle. South Africa, under Bavuma, has demonstrated exceptional form, winning seven consecutive matches to reach the final. The performances of these two veteran batters could be crucial in determining the outcome of this high-stakes contest.
Steve Smith’s Test career statistics are remarkable. He has amassed 10,271 runs in 206 innings across 116 matches, with a noteworthy average of 56.74. His achievements include 36 centuries and 41 half-centuries, establishing him as one of Australia’s leading Test batsmen. Against South Africa, Smith has scored 854 runs in 21 innings across 13 Tests, averaging 44.94, with 2 centuries and 4 fifties. In the World Test Championship, his contributions include 4,072 runs in 89 innings across 53 matches, at an average of 50.90, featuring 13 centuries and 17 half-centuries.
Temba Bavuma, though having fewer Test appearances, is an essential member of the South African team. He has played 63 Test matches, scoring 3,606 runs in 108 innings at an average of 37.95, with 4 centuries and 24 half-centuries. Against Australia, Bavuma has played 9 matches, accumulating 483 runs in 15 innings, with an average of 40.25. He is yet to achieve a century against them, but his highest score is 95 not out. In the WTC, Bavuma has scored 1,890 runs in 49 innings across 28 matches, averaging 43.95, with 3 centuries and 11 fifties, highlighting his significance as the second-highest African run-scorer in the championship.