South Africa - Road to the World Test Championship Final

South Africa overcame an indifferent start to this cycle of the World Test Championship, wherein they lost three of their first four Tests, and went on to deliver a consistent string of results to top the World Test Championship standings and will now feature in the big finale at Lord’s from June 11.

Earlier in May, South Africa named a strong 15-player squad that will take on Australia in the big contest.

With Lungi Ngidi joining Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen to make up the front-line pace attack, and Temba Bavuma leading the lineup boasting strong performances with the bat, South Africa will offer a tough challenge to reigning World Test Champions Australia.

South Africa Squad for WTC Final: Temba Bavuma (c), Tony de Zorzi, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Marco Jansen, Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi, Corbin Bosch, Kyle Verreynne, David Bedingham, Tristan Stubbs, Ryan Rickelton, Senuran Muthusamy, Dane Paterson.

With an exciting final on the horizon, we take a look back at the six series South Africa played en route to their journey to Lord’s:

v India [1-1, Home]

Temba Bavuma’s side began their World Test Championship campaign with a two-match home series against India in December 2023.

The Proteas flexed their muscle in a convincing victory by an innings and 32 runs in the first Test at Centurion, courtesy of Dean Elgar’s magnificent 185 with the bat even as Kagiso Rabada and Nandre Burger ran through the Indian lineup - snapping up seven wickets each.

However, in the second Test at Cape Town, India came back strongly to secure a commanding seven-wicket win as the Proteas witnessed back-to-back batting collapses under the stewardship of Dean Elgar, who stepped in due to Bavuma’s injury in the first Test.

India levelled the series as long-time South Africa batter Elgar confirmed his retirement after a 86-Test career.

v New Zealand [0-2, Away]

South Africa went to New Zealand in February 2024 with a number of changes to their lineup, with Neil Brand taking the reins.

A disappointing outing saw the Proteas lose both Test matches. The Kiwis secured a massive win by 281 runs at Mount Maunganui, followed by a seven-wicket triumph at Hamilton in the second Test, securing their first-ever Test series victory against South Africa.

v West Indies [1-0, Away]

Bavuma returned to the side as did several experienced campaigners such as Aiden Markram, Kagiso Rabada and Keshav Maharaj for the two-match series in the West Indies in August 2024.

The first Test at the Port of Spain ended in a stalemate. The result meant South Africa were now winless in four Tests on the bounce.

The visitors however, returned to fine form in the second Test in Providence, securing a win by 40 runs in a low-scoring thriller as the Proteas bowlers outshone their Caribbean counterparts.

Maharaj was adjudged Player of the Series Award for his exploits across both Tests as he secured a total of 13 scalps.

v Bangladesh [2-0, Away]

Markram donned the captain’s armband in this series as Bavuma missed out in Bangladesh owing to injury. Dewald Brevis and Lungi Ngidi were included in the side due to substitute for Bavuma and pacer Nandre Burger, who was also ruled out injured.

The first Test at Mirpur saw South Africa march to a comfortable win with seven wickets in hand. Kyle Verrynne’s 114 off 144 deliveries in the first innings set the foundation for the Proteas' win.

However, the visitors were an even more formidable force in the second Test at Chattogram, breezing past Bangladesh by an innings and 273 runs. Tony De Zorzi’s incredible knock of 177 served as a catalyst while Rabada lived up to his impressive standards with a five-wicket haul in the first innings.

Rabada was adjudged the Player of the Series as he accrued 14 scalps from the two outings, bringing the Proteas’ World Test Championship campaign back on track.

South Africa's Kagiso Rabada celebrates taking a wicket against Bangladesh in Dhaka during the two-match ICC World Test Championship series // Getty Images.

v Sri Lanka [2-0, Home]

Bavuma returned to lead the Test side as Sri Lanka arrived on South African shores for a two-Test match series in November 2024.

The hosts couldn’t have got off to a better start in Durban as they came all guns blazing and forged a 233-run win. Left-arm quick Marco Jansen was the star with the ball, as he ended up with figures of 7/13 in the first innings and 4/73 in the second innings.

While there were signs of a Sri Lankan comeback in the second Test in Gqeberha, South Africa brushed them aside quickly to seal another dominant win.

Dane Paterson shone with the ball, notching figures of 5/71 and 2/33 across the two innings, which included three wickets in an over in a first-innings burst.

Bavuma was named Player of the Series award for his inspirational run with the bat as he seized 327 runs across both Tests.

v Pakistan [2-0, Home]

South Africa’s final assignment of the 2023-25 World Test Championship cycle saw Pakistan visit for a two-Test series in December 2024.

The first Test at Centurion was a close affair, with the hosts edging out by two wickets in a tricky chase that was capped by Jansen and Rabada’s memorable stand with the bat.

The win in the Boxing Day Test ensured that South Africa became the first team to qualify for this year’s WTC Final.

Eyeing a seventh Test win in a row and wrapping up their campaign in style, the Proteas produced a masterful display in Cape Town. Ryan Rickelton had his finest day as Proteas red-ball international as he scored an unbeaten 259 off 343 deliveries, with Bavuma and Kyle Verreynne also fashioning tons in the first innings.

This helped the Proteas secure a 10-wicket triumph, closing the World Test Championship cycle with 100 points on the board.

Jansen was deemed the Player of the Series for his 10 wickets across the two Tests.

Among the positives for the Proteas en route to Lord’s was David Bedingham, who finished as the team’s top-scorer with 645 runs across 12 World Test Championship 2023/25 outings at an average of 33.92. Skipper Bavuma wasn’t too far behind with his 609 runs from seven Tests.

Meanwhile, Rabada was the highest wicket-taker for the Proteas with 47 wickets in 10 Tests.

First-time WTC Finalists, South Africa will look to clinch a much-awaited ICC title by eclipsing reigning WTC champions Australia in the Ultimate Test starting June 11 at Lord’s.