Proteas pinpoint Australia's weakness ahead of WTC25 Final

By Jonathan Healy, at Lord's

South Africa captain Temba Bavuma believes his team can exploit the fact Australia will use a makeshift opener during the ICC World Test Championship Final at Lord's.

The World Test Championship finalists revealed their playing XIs for the one-off Test in London on Tuesday, with both sides producing their fair share of selection surprises.

The Proteas took a chance on injury prone pacer Lungi Ngidi ahead of Dane Paterson and will stick with all-rounder Wiaan Mulder at first drop during the Lord's contest, while the Aussies decided to leave out teenager Sam Konstas and push usual No.3 Marnus Labuschagne up to partner Usman Khawaja at the top of the order.

Labuschagne has never opened the batting at Test level and Bavuma thinks his power-packed fast bowling attack can take advantage of this in the Ultimate Test that commences on Wednesday.

"I think there is an opportunity there an I think the conditions as well, I believe, bring us into the game a lot.

"With the swinging ball, very different to Australian conditions and different to South African conditions as well and that definitely gives us an opportunity.

"I think both teams have formidable bowling attacks. I think the real opportunity is within the two betting lineups and how they are able to kind of front up and give their bowlers a score to bowl at."

One bowler who will be pivotal to the Proteas' hopes will be No.2 ranked Test bowler Kagiso Rabada, who arrives in London following a stint in the Indian Premier League with Gujarat Titans and having collected a five-wicket haul on his last appearance at Lord's back in 2022.

Bavuma has been impressed with Rabada's bowling in recent times and believes the right-armer is primed for a strong performance on his return to the Home of Cricket.

"I think he's in the best shape that he's ever been," Bavuma said of the pace spearhead.

"We also play against the Australians as well so you know that will be extra motivation for him and I think he's in a very good space."