South Africa will clash with Australia in the much-awaited final of the 2025 World Test Championship (WTC) to be held at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground from June 11 to June 15. A reserve day, June 16, has been designated in the event of any weather disruptions or lost playing time.
Temba Bavuma will captain a confident South African team, hoping to win their first major ICC title in almost three decades. In their path are reigning WTC champions Australia, led by Pat Cummins. The Aussies have been in phenomenal shape in Test cricket and are hoping to claim their second successive WTC title.
South Africa’s path to the final has been nothing less than remarkable. The Proteas were top of the WTC points table, fueled by a 2-0 series victory over Pakistan. It was their seventh successive Test victory, highlighting their consistency and dominance at red-ball cricket. Along the way, they recorded important victories over the likes of Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, gaining tremendous momentum going into the final.
Even as the match is set to produce quality cricket of the highest order, weather may be an influencing factor on Day 2, when showers are predicted. This has once again focused attention on the reserve day, a fall-back option brought in by the ICC for this cutthroat encounter.
Fond memories at Lord's hold South Africa in good stead ahead of the Ultimate Test 👊
— ICC (@ICC) June 9, 2025
More on the #WTC25 Final 👇https://t.co/SiAq83RDO0
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What if the WTC Final ends in a draw or rained out?
If the match is a tie, draw, or washed out because of incessant rain even after the reserve day, then both teams will be entitled to a share the World Test Championship mace.
Purpose of the Reserve Day
The reserve day is a fallback option to compensate for lost playing hours on the first five days of the match. This method was initially followed during the 2021 WTC final between New Zealand and India when Day 1 was totally washed out. There, the sixth day had been utilized to good effect to secure a result.
With both sides desperate for triumph, and the bonus uncertainty of the English climate, the 2025 WTC final is set to be dramatic, passionate, and high-pressure as cricket enthusiasts globally watch on to see history unfold.
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