Logo of Temba Bavuma and Pat Cummins on the Lord's balcony

World Test Championship Final: Follow the Ultimate Test and Where to Watch

The Ultimate Test has begun at Lord's with South Africa and Australia sharing the spoils in a bid for the World Test Championship mace.

The Ultimate Test has so far lived up to its name at Lord's with 14 wickets falling on a dramatic Day 1 as South Africa and Australia fight for the World Test Championship mace.

After being bowled out for just 212 early in the third session of the opening day, defending champions Australia hit back in evening play, taking four South African wickets with them when stumps were called.

A determined South Africa, aiming for their first ICC trophy in over two decades, will resume on Day 2 at 43/4

All 14 wickets to fall on Day 1 of WTC25 Final

A scintillating day with the ball as South Africa and Australia combine in a 14-wicket day.

Match details

South Africa v Australia

Dates: June 11–15, 2025 (Reserve Day: June 16)

Venue: Lord’s, London

Start Time: 10:30 AM Local Time

Aussie pacers hit back after Rabada shines with the ball | Day 1 Highlights | WTC25 Final

After Kagiso Rabada nabbed his 17th five-wicket haul to bundle out Australia, Pat Cummins and Co respond to set up an exciting Day 2.

WTC25 Final – Where to watch

Several international broadcast partners have come on board to bring live and highlights coverage of the ICC World Test Championship Final to a global TV audience

India: Star Sports & Jiostar

Australia: Amazon Prime Video

South Africa: SuperSport TV

UK: Sky Sports Cricket

USA & Canada: Willow TV and Willow TV app

Caribbean & South America: ESPN Caribbean and ESPN Play Caribbean

New Zealand: Sky Sport Network

Middle East & North Africa: TSM via Nagorik TV, e&

Pakistan: PTV and Ten Sports

Afghanistan: Ariana Television

Sri Lanka: Maharaja TV

Singapore: StarHub

Malaysia: Astro

Hong Kong: PCCW

Pacific Islands: PNG Digicel

Rest of the World: ICC.tv

Squads and Playing XI

South Africa and Australia announced their squads for the World Test Championship Final on Monday, 13 May and their playing XIs on the eve of the Ultimate Test on 10 June.

South Africa Playing XI: Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton, Wiaan Mulder, Temba Bavuma (c), Tristan Stubbs, David Bedingham, Kyle Verreynne (wk), Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi

Australia Playing XI: Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Cameron Green, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Beau Webster, Alex Carey (wk), Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood.

Rabada five-for puts South Africa in the driving seat | Player Highlights | WTC25 Final

Kagiso Rabada led the bowling efforts for South Africa with his 17th Test five-for on Day 1 of the ICC World Test Championship Final.

South Africa’s road to the final

Matches Played: 12

Wins: 8

Losses: 3

Draws: 1

Points: 100

PCT: 69.44%

The Proteas’ WTC journey started with a 1-1 drawn series against India at home, before being handed a 2-0 series defeat by New Zealand.

They then travelled to the West Indies, winning 1-0, before picking up pace with 2-0 wins against both Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

This meant that a thrilling two-wicket win against Pakistan at Centurion was enough to help them seal their berth in the final showdown.

They eventually went on to win the series 2-0 against Pakistan, earning their seventh consecutive Test win in this cycle, helping the Proteas qualify as the table toppers.

Also read: Five key questions for South Africa before the WTC25 Final

Steve Smith's fighting fifty for Australia | Player Highlights | WTC25 Final

On a tricky Day 1 at Lord's, Steve Smith buckled down with a gritty half century.

Australia’s road to the final

Matches Played: 19

Wins: 13

Losses: 4

Draws: 2

Points: 154

PCT: 67.54%

The ICC No.1 ranked Test team started their journey to the WTC Final with two Ashes wins before England’s comeback to draw the series 2-2.

This was followed by a clinical clean sweep at home, winning three Tests against Pakistan. They were not able to finish the home Test summer unbeaten, dropping the second Test against the West Indies to draw 1-1 thanks to Shamar Joseph’s heroics for the tourists in Brisbane.

A 2-0 sweep away from home against New Zealand followed, before Australia hosted India for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

After being handed a huge defeat in the first Test, Australia hit back with three wins in the next four Tests to help them seal their spot in the Ultimate Test.

Also read: Five decisions Australia must make ahead of the WTC25 Final

The Aussies’ final two Tests of the WTC 2023-25 cycle concluded with the visitors defeating Sri Lanka 2-0 in the subcontinent and finishing second in the table.

Key players

South Africa: Kagiso Rabada

World No. 2-ranked bowler has been the torchbearer for the Proteas in the pace unit, with his 47 wickets in 10 Tests crucial in South Africa’s run to the Final.

His three five-wicket hauls and a sizzling 19.97 average in the current WTC cycle have played a key role in the Proteas’ triumphs at home as well as away.

The right-armer also enjoys English conditions, picking up 30 wickets in six Tests there, with a five-wicket haul as well to his name.

Australia: Travis Head

Australia’s left-hander has taken part in all 19 assignments for Australia so far in the current cycle, amassing 1177 runs and scoring three centuries, playing a major role in Australia’s road to back-to-back WTC Finals.

The eighth-ranked Test batter brings plenty of experience playing in English conditions, making 734 runs in 10 Test outings over his career.

Travis also set the WTC Final stage on fire in 2023, scoring a stunning 163 that took away the Test mace from India at the Oval. Australia would hope for their talented southpaw to repeat his heroic at Lord's.

Beau Webster helps Australia's cause with half-century | Player Highlights | WTC25 Final

Beau Webster marked his first Lord's Test with a half century in the World Test Championship Final.

WTC25 Prize money

On 15 May, ICC have unveiled a massive prize money pool for the 2023–25 edition of the ICC World Test Championship.

The champions will walk away with USD $3.6 million, a significant jump from the USD $1.6 million awarded in both 2021 and 2023 while the runners-up will earn USD $2.16 million, up from USD $800,000.

Winners: 3,600,000 USD

Runners-up: 2,160,000 USD

Logo of ICC World Test Championship Final, 2025