WTC25 Final hopefuls prime in County action
Australia's Cameron Green and Matthew Kuhnemann shine in the UK, as Cardiff plays host to a potential World Test Championship match-up between Dane Paterson and Marnus Labuschagne.
Cameron Green and Matthew Kuhnemann have shone in County Championship action as Australia prepare to defend the World Test Championship mace next month at Lord's.
Green's 118* for Gloucestershire against Northamptonshire was his third hundred in five matches for his county, on his road back to a Test XI recall after his lengthy back lay-off.
Cameron Green with another century for Gloucestershire today, scoring 118* 💛🖤
— Gloucestershire Cricket 🏆 (@Gloscricket) May 25, 2025
The Aussie is currently averaging 73.67 in the @CountyChamp this season 😮💨#BecomeGlorious pic.twitter.com/VBdrOhM74w
Coming in at 156/4, Green hit eight fours and three sixes, helping the side reach 379/8 before skipper and fellow Australian Cameron Bancroft's made the innings declaration.
Green has one more innings before joining the Australian World Test Championship Final camp, with 442 runs at over 73 already to his name for the UK season.
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Cardiff's Sophia Gardens played host to a potential World Test Championship Final preview of sorts, with South Africa's Dane Paterson, turning out for Middlesex, going head-to-head with Australia's Marnus Labuschagne for Glamorgan.
Dane Paterson v Marnus Labuschange
— Rothesay County Championship (@CountyChamp) May 24, 2025
A dress rehearsal for the ICC World Test Championship final pic.twitter.com/8eu9fcLSLe
Labuschagne was not dismissed by the Proteas quick, though fell for 23 against first-change fast bowler Ryan Higgins. With Glamorgan only needing eight to win in the second innings, Labuschagne didn't bat again in his side's 10-wicket win, and goes into the World Test Championship Final with just 27 runs across three innings in his 2025 UK sojourn.
It was another Aussie and Final hopeful in Kuhnemann who shone for Glamorgan, taking career-best First Class figures of 6/53 in the second innings to stifle the visitors.
Making an impact in his one-match stay for the Welsh county, Kuhnemann tore through Middlesex's top order either side of lunch on day three, before taking two of the last three wickets on the road to victory.
Scene set for epic World Test Championship Final
South Africa and Australia are ready to battle it out in the ICC World Test Championship Final at Lord's from June 11 2025
World Test Championship Final Squads
South Africa: Tony de Zorzi, Ryan Rickelton, Aiden Markram, Temba Bavuma (c), David Bedingham, Tristan Stubbs, Kyle Verreynne, Wiaan Mulder, Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, Dane Paterson, Keshav Maharaj, Senuran Muthusamy.
Australia: Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Alex Carey, Josh Inglis, Cameron Green, Beau Webster, Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Scott Boland, Nathan Lyon, Matt Kuhnemann. Travelling reserve: Brendan Doggett