Australia take on South Africa in the World Test Championship final in Lord’s. The defending champions have once again underlined their red-ball supremacy by reaching the final of the ICC World Test Championship 2023–25 cycle. Led by Pat Cummins, the Australians have showcased remarkable consistency and adaptability across various conditions and against top-tier opposition. From the Ashes battle in England to a superb series against India at home, and clean sweeps in New Zealand and Sri Lanka, Australia have built a dominant path to the summit clash. As they prepare to take on South Africa at Lord’s from June 11, here’s a look at how they made it to the WTC Final. Australia vs England [2-2, Away] Australia established early dominance in the 2023 Ashes, securing a close win in Birmingham (by two wickets), before taking an exciting contest at Lord’s (by 43 runs) to secure a 2-0 lead. However, England struck back in the third Test with a three-wicket victory on the back of stunning performances from Ben Stokes in the first innings (80), Harry Brook in the second (75), and Mark Wood’s magic with the ball throughout the Test (5/34, 2/66). Needing just a draw to retain the Ashes, Australia proceeded to do exactly that in the fourth Test, holding up against the hosts with some help from the weather, while England managed to fight back in the final game as well to make it 2-2. Mitchell Starc was chosen as Australia’s Player of the Series with 23 wickets across the five Tests. Australia vs Pakistan [3-0, Home] Australia then faced Pakistan in a three-match Test series at home in December 2023. The hosts continued their dominance against Pakistan at home with a 3-0 series whitewash to make it 17 Test wins on the trot against the Asian side since 1999. Australia secured wins by 360 runs in the first Test, 79 runs in the second Test, and by eight wickets in the third Test. Skipper Pat Cummins was consistent across the three matches and was named the Player of the Series for his 19 wickets. Meanwhile, in a significant development, one of Australia’s opening stalwarts across formats, David Warner, called time on his red-ball career upon the conclusion of the final Test against Pakistan in Sydney. Australia vs West Indies [1-1, Home] Kraigg Brathwaite’s West Indies were up next at home, and the Australian side had to settle for a share of the spoils as the series finished tied with one victory apiece. The first Test in Adelaide saw Australia continue their unbeaten run at home with a comfortable win. Travis Head scored a brilliant 119 off 134 deliveries in the first innings, while Josh Hazlewood was in sizzling form with nine wickets across both innings as Australia secured a victory by 10 wickets. The second Test, a day-night encounter in Brisbane, was a West Indies performance for the ages. Featuring in just his second Test, pacer Shamar Joseph overcame a toe injury and put up the performance of a lifetime in the second innings, picking up 7/68 and halting Australia eight runs short of their ask. For the first time since the 1996/97 season, the Caribbean side had won a Test in Australia. This was also Australia’s first Test loss on home soil since India were the victors at the same venue in 2021. Australia vs New Zealand [2-0, Away] Next, Australia went across the Tasman to take on neighbouring rivals New Zealand. The visitors secured a 2-0 series win against New Zealand, winning the first Test by a comfortable margin of 172 runs at Wellington courtesy of a Nathan Lyon 10-wicket haul. The Kiwis fought back in the second Test, and after conceding an advantage in the first innings, managed to set up a target of 279. Early strikes from Ben Sears and Matt Henry left Australia reduced to 80/5. However, resilient batting from Mitchell Marsh, Alex Carey, and Pat Cummins saw the tourists through. Australia vs India [3-1, Home] Coming off a disastrous home series against New Zealand, India showed renewed vigour in Perth, winning the first Test by 295 runs. Stand-in skipper Jasprit Bumrah was their star, registering inspiring bowling figures of 8/72. But in the second Test in Adelaide, a pink-ball encounter, Pat Cummins’ side came back strongly on the back of Travis Head’s heroics in the first innings. He scored 140 off 141 deliveries. Meanwhile, Cummins and Starc shone as well, with seven and eight scalps respectively. Australia dominated a rain-affected encounter in Brisbane—albeit a draw—but the downside was key pacer Josh Hazlewood picking up an injury and being ruled out for the remainder of the series with a calf strain. The Boxing Day Test in Melbourne was a Test cricket masterclass from Australia. While the hosts dominated the majority of the Test, they overcame India’s resolve on the fifth day to take a win in the final hour of the game. A 3-1 series win would have ensured Australia’s place in the top two of the WTC standings, thus confirming their spot in the final even before they had played their last series. And Scott Boland, leading with a sensational seam-bowling performance, ensured just that for the hosts in Sydney. Despite a slender lead in the first innings, India lost their way following an injury to star pacer Bumrah, who finished with a staggering 32 wickets in the series at an average of 13.06. Boland’s career-best 10/76 ensured a modest target for the hosts in the second innings, and they overcame the ask of 162 against an injured Indian bowling lineup with six wickets to spare. Australia vs Sri Lanka [2-0, Away] After an exhausting outing against India at home, Australia started without key figures like Cummins and Hazlewood for the Sri Lanka encounters. Steve Smith took the reins in the island nation as Australia secured another series whitewash away from home, their first series triumph in Sri Lanka since 2011. Smith led from the front, winning the Player…
