World Test Championship Final 2025 – Australia vs South Africa at Lord’s

ICC World Test Championship 2025 Final: Test Cricket’s Modern Pinnacle

As the cricketing world gears up for the final of the ICC World Test Championship 2023–25, the stage is once again set for a battle between endurance and elegance, grit and strategy. Scheduled for June 11 at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground in London, the final features defending champions Australia against a hungry and in-form South Africa.

The World Test Championship, now in its third cycle, has cemented its position as the elite contest in red-ball cricket. It has evolved from a novel experiment into a high-stakes, prestige-laden tournament that rewards consistency, adaptability, and excellence across continents. And as the Proteas and Aussies prepare to walk the Lord’s slope, let’s rewind the journey of a competition that is redefining the value of Test cricket.

Test Championship Format: Structure with Substance

The ICC World Test Championship was introduced with a simple purpose: restore significance to every Test match. By assigning points to individual matches across bilateral series, the WTC eliminated the notion of “dead rubbers.” Each team plays three home and three away series over two years, and each Test is worth 12 points. Final standings are determined by the percentage of points won, leveling the playing field even for teams with uneven match counts.

The 2023–25 cycle saw a dramatic fight for the top two spots. South Africa emerged as table-toppers, winning eight of their 12 Tests and collecting 69.44% of possible points. Their rise came through series wins over New Zealand, Bangladesh, and India at home, and vital away wins against Pakistan and West Indies.

Meanwhile, Australia, the reigning champions, went unbeaten across all six of their series, with a win rate of 67.54%. Despite a slow over-rate penalty that cost them 10 points, their series wins over England and India underlined their dominance.

Backstory: Why the World Test Championship Was Needed

Long before its formal launch in 2019, the idea of a global Test competition was floated by former West Indies captain Clive Lloyd in the late 1990s. But it wasn’t until the 2010s that the ICC began serious planning. The challenge? Syncing the WTC with existing tours, commercial contracts, and the cricket calendar.

That complexity delayed its birth, but the 2019 Ashes became the curtain-raiser for the inaugural cycle. As England’s James Anderson said then: “Test cricket is the pinnacle of our sport… and the WTC gives context and meaning to every single match.”

Today, the WTC does just that. It adds layers of drama to five-day cricket where every run, every wicket, and every draw carries more than just pride.

Australia and South Africa: Finalists with Form and Firepower

This final brings together two teams that have embraced the WTC concept with intensity.

Australia, led by Pat Cummins, are looking to become back-to-back WTC champions after defeating India in the 2023 final at The Oval. That win was built on Travis Head’s majestic 163 and relentless bowling. Their campaign this time included commanding performances from Steve Smith, Usman Khawaja, and the pace trio of Cummins, Starc, and Hazlewood.

South Africa, often labeled underachievers in ICC tournaments, are heading into this final with newfound maturity and tactical acumen. Their batting, spearheaded by Dean Elgar and Temba Bavuma, has been bolstered by the rise of all-rounder Marco Jansen and the consistency of Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi.

The Lord’s final is not just a match. It’s a historic opportunity for South Africa to win their first-ever ICC trophy in men’s cricket since their return to the international stage in 1991.

The Journey So Far: Previous WTC Finals

The 2021 final saw New Zealand triumph over India in a rain-affected match at Southampton. Kyle Jamieson’s five-wicket haul and Ross Taylor’s composed finish gifted the Kiwis their first major ICC title since 2000.

Then came 2023, where Australia overwhelmed India by 209 runs. Head’s 163 and Nathan Lyon’s fourth-innings pressure sealed the win, marking the Aussies as the first nation to win every ICC men’s title.

The bar is high. And the 2025 final at Lord’s might just be the most competitive one yet.

The WTC’s Cultural Impact: Elevating Test Cricket’s Prestige

With dwindling interest in some markets and the rise of T20 leagues, the WTC has been a timely intervention. It repositions Test cricket as not just a heritage format but a global trophy race. It has created narratives that matter away wins have regained value, and rotation policies are now evaluated against championship standings.