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
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