Australia are aiming to be the first team to win multiple Test Championships when they face off against South Africa at Lord’s. Pat Cummins and Co defeated India in the WTC Final two years ago and will hope to do the same when facing Temba Bavuma’s side. Much of Australia’s side is unchanged since that win at the Oval, but Cummins and coach Andre McDonald have a couple of tough decisions to make come June 11.
Australia squad for WTC Final 2025: Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Matt Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Beau Webster. Travelling reserve: Brendan Doggett
Australia Playing XI: The certainties
Much of Australia’s Playing XI for the WTC Final 2025 picks itself. Pat Cummins is the captain and will lead the pace attack. Steve Smith is the deputy and the side’s best batsman. Alongside Smith, Usman Khawaja and Travis Head are among the three players to have scored more than 1000 runs in the current World Test Championship cycle. Alex Carey is settled behind the stumps, having contributed just a shade under 1k runs. Nathan Lyon and Mitchell Starc trail Pat Cummins as leading wicket takers for Australia.
That makes it 8 players certain to play. The onus will be on this set of players to lead Australia to glory for the second time in 2 years.
Probable Aus Playing XI vs SA: 1. Usman Khawaja 2. Marnus Labuschagne/Josh Inglis 3. Steve Smith 4. Cameron Green 5. Travis Head 6. Beau Webster 7. Alex Carey 8. Pat Cummins 9. Mitchell Starc 10. Josh Hazlewood 11. Nathan Lyon
Who opens for Australia?
Usman Khawaja has been the only constant at the top of the order, with Australia trying as many as four different openers in the last 12 Tests. Sam Konstas made headlines against India, but was dropped in favour of Travis Head. He has occasionally batted at the top of the order, but has enjoyed regular success at the No.5 position. The left-hander smashed a brilliant 163 in the World Test Championship final against India at The Oval in 2023.
Given Head’s impact and form down the order, Cummins could persist with him in the middle order role. Steve Smith also opened in four tests, but reverted to No.4 for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. That leaves either Marnus Labuschagne or even Josh Inglis to open the batting.
“I think Josh could do it, but I’ve said the same about Marnus,” selector George Bailey said after confirmation of Australia’s squad for thee World Test Championship final.
Marnus Labuschagne has struggled for runs in the current cycle, averaging a mere 28 with the bat. He is, however, already in the UK, playing for Glamorgan in the County Championships. Inglis scored a century on Test debut in Sri Lanka, but it came while batting in the middle order.
With Cameron Green yet to resume bowling, the presence of Beau Webster becomes critical. In the current scheme of things, Green could slot in at 4, with Marnus and Smith both moving a spot up the order.
Josh Hazlewood or Scott Boland?
Perhaps the biggest talking point from the Aus Playing XI will be the third pacer role. Australia have an embarrassment of riches and in Scott Boland and Josh Hazlewood, Cummins has two world class bowlers for just one spot in the XI. Hazlewood is currently nursing a shoulder niggle in IPL 2025 but he is expected to be fir for the WTC Final.
Other than Jasprit Bumrah, Hazlewood is the only other bowler with 50+ wickets in the current cycle with an average under 20. Boland for that matter, hasn’t too bad for himself, picking up 23 wickets in 5 Tests at an average of 22.08. Boland incidentally had played a key role in the 2023 WTC Final, with Hazlewood out injured. The Victorian had taken 5 wickets, including those of Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli.
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