Tag: South Africa

Australia batting great Steve Smith is expecting a tough examination from the impressive pace attack of South Africa in this week’s World Test Championship (WTC) final at Lord’s.

Reigning champions Australia, who beat India in the WTC final in 2023, are favourites against the Proteas in the five-day match, which starts on Wednesday.

“South Africa have a particularly good bowling attack led by Kagiso Rabada, his record speaks for itself. Marco Jansen — they are a good side, they are here for a reason,” Smith said on Monday.

Rabada, 30, has taken 327 wickets at an average of 22, while Jansen, 25, has 73 wickets at 21.76 in his 17 matches.

But former Test captain Smith also expects conditions at Lord’s to favour spin bowling later in the game, which could work to the advantage of Australia off-break bowler Nathan Lyon.

“I think spin will play a big part, particularly as the game wears on,” Smith added. “We’ve only been here a week, but I think it’s been a pretty dry start to the season over here.

“There hasn’t been too much rain, which is rare for England. It does look like quite a dry surface, and I think the footmarks will definitely come into play as the game wears on.”

Steve Smith has a superb Test record at London’s Lord’s ground, with 525 runs in five matches, including a double century and a hundred, at an average of 58.33.

“I’ve had a bit of success here,” said the 36-year-old. “It takes a bit of time getting used to the slope, one end thinking you are falling over, the other you feel a bit tall.

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“It’s a nice wicket to bat on, but if there’s a bit of cloud about and the balls swing around, it can get tricky.”

Several members of the Australian squad have not played much first-class cricket in recent months, but Smith was confident they would quickly find their rhythm.

“All the batters feel like they’re in a good place, so now we’re just excited to go out and play,” he said.

“Lord’s is a place we traditionally played pretty good cricket, so we’re excited about the prospect of coming up against South Africa.”

England have repeatedly emphasised how their long-term planning is designed to create a team capable of winning an Ashes series for the first time in a decade when they tour Australia in 2025/26.

But Smith said Australia were fully focused on the task in front of them.

“The Ashes is a big series, but you can’t look too far ahead,” said Smith, winner of the Compton-Miller Medal for player of the Ashes series in 2017/18 and 2019.

“You’ve got to keep playing each game as it comes. Every game is important with the World Test Championship on the line.

“That’s the reason it came in: to make every Test more relevant.”

READ: Aiden Markram says South Africa woes ‘buried’ ahead of WTC final

South Africa batter Aiden Markram insists there will be no mental scarring from his side’s previous failures when they face holders Australia in the World Test Championship (WTC) final at Lord’s.

The Proteas have suffered several agonising near-misses in major tournaments, including last year’s T20 World Cup final in Barbados.

They needed just 30 more runs to win, with 30 balls and six wickets remaining, yet somehow contrived to lose in devastating fashion against India.

But Markram, South Africa’s captain in that match and one of five survivors from the game in the WTC final squad, is confident there will be no hangover for a red-ball side led by Temba Bavuma.

“This team is a bit different,” Aiden Markram told reporters at Lord’s on Sunday.

“The few of us that have been a part of previous events that didn’t go our way have dealt with it, have obviously chatted to each other and made sure we’ve buried it nicely and taken some good lessons from it.

“But besides that, now, it’s more about the excitement of having another opportunity to actually do the job. So that’s pretty much where the mind is at the moment.”

As an opener, Markram will have the tough task of trying to blunt a formidable Australia bowling line-up in an eagerly anticipated final that starts on Wednesday.

But South Africa, with Kagiso Rabada leading the way, have an impressive pace attack of their own.

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“When you’re opening the batting, obviously your responsibility is to get the team off to a good start and get us ahead of the game. So that’s the challenge, that’s what excites us,” Markram said.

“But when you’re preparing against your bowlers, who are world-class, it can only help you as a batter, as uncomfortable as it can be at times.”

South Africa won seven Tests in a row to qualify for the WTC final, a run that featured several short series.

“A lot of our series have been two-game series. So in order to win that series, you can’t start slow,” Markram said.

“There’s no second dip at it, so we’re going to have to make sure we hit the ground running and are nice and sharp come day one.”

The 30-year-old Markram, a veteran of 45 Tests, is relishing the chance to make history on the hallowed turf at Lord’s.

“To play in a Test match here is really special, and then obviously for it to be a final is probably the cherry on top,” he said.

Markram, asked what made Lord’s so memorable, replied: “Probably just the history…You know how many of the greats of the game have played here.

“For us to have that opportunity to play on the same field and share that changing room that they once sat in is quite a cool thought.”

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South Africa pacer Kagiso Rabada has fired a warning shot to Australia ahead of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final, making it clear that their trademark sledging won’t rattle him.

Set to return for the all-important final at Lord’s starting June 11, the South African speedster is eyeing redemption, both on and off the field, after serving a brief suspension for recreational drug use.

Now cleared to play, the 30-year-old is expected to be one of South Africa’s key weapons as they chase their maiden WTC crown.

“They come at you, and I think that gets the best out of me,” Rabada told SABC Sport.

“Any type of verbal abuse, or if the media wants to say something, that’s normal. That’s the field we play in. You can’t be ignorant of it; you’ve got to be aware.

“But it’s not going to slow me down. They’ve been notorious for that over the years, right? So yeah, let’s see.”

Kagiso Rabada has a fiery history with the Aussies — from on-field run-ins to the infamous Steve Smith shoulder bump during the “Sandpapergate” series, and his return sets the stage for yet another high-octane contest between the two sides.

Former South Africa assistant coach Malibongwe Maketa also chimed in, cautioning Australia against provoking Rabada.

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“I think the Australians have learned now,” Maketa said. “I don’t think the current crop of players would say too much to KG because they know what it would bring out in him.”

Maketa further highlighted how Australia’s presence brings a different kind of pressure — one that Kagiso Rabada feeds off.

“It’s relentless — the body language, the aggression, even the crowd. But KG thrives in that. He doesn’t run from pressure; he walks into it.”

Speaking about his recent off-field controversy, Rabada acknowledged the mistake and said the time away gave him perspective.

“Look, this is not an ideal situation,” he said. “It forced me to reflect, to be grateful for what I have. People will have their opinions, I’m okay with that. I’m just happy to be back doing what I love.”

South Africa qualified for the WTC final after a strong campaign, winning eight out of 12 matches.

Despite a 2-0 defeat in New Zealand and a drawn series at home against India (1-1), the Proteas bounced back with clean sweeps over Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan, along with a 1-0 win over the West Indies.

South Africa squad for WTC Final: Temba Bavuma (captain), Tony de Zorzi, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Marco Jansen, Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi, Corbin Bosch, Kyle Verreynne, David Bedingham, Tristan Stubbs, Ryan Rickelton, Senuran Muthusamy, Dane Paterson.

READ: South Africa spinner pays heartfelt tribute to retiring Heinrich Klaasen

South Africa’s veteran spinner Keshav Maharaj has paid glowing tribute to Heinrich Klaasen, following the wicketkeeper-batter’s unexpected retirement from international cricket.

Speaking to the ICC while preparing for the World Test Championship (WTC) Final, Maharaj reflected on Klaasen’s impactful yet relatively short international career, praising his evolution into one of the most dangerous white-ball batters in world cricket.

“He is probably one of, if not the most feared batsmen, especially in the white-ball game these days,” Maharaj said.

“Yeah, it is sad to know that he is walking away. He is still young—he’s younger than me. But you know, we can only wish him well. I’m sure he has his reasons, and you’ve got to respect that.”

Klaasen, who debuted for South Africa in 2018, enjoyed notable success in limited-overs formats, particularly ODIs, where he played 60 matches, scored 2,141 runs at an average of 43.69, and struck at an impressive 117.05.

His career-defining knock came against Australia in Centurion in 2023, where he hammered a brutal 174 off just 83 balls — the highest-ever ODI score by a batter at No. 5 in history.

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Keshav Maharaj described Klaasen’s rise as a story of perseverance and timing.

“It is amazing to see how his journey transitioned—from being in and out of the team, probably not knowing where he stood, to one series that really changed the game,” he noted.

“It’s a huge boot to fill in the lineup, but I know he’ll still be supporting us and making sure we get over the line in this game as well.”

The 2020 ODI series against Australia was pinpointed by Maharaj as the turning point in Klaasen’s career, a moment that saw him cement his place in South Africa’s white-ball setup.

Klaasen’s performance in the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 final also stood out for Maharaj, who labelled it a testament to his big-match temperament.

“He brought us back into the game and gave us a little bit of hope. We probably did not cross the final hurdle, but it was super special to witness his calibre in a game of that magnitude. It just shows why he’s world-class,” he said.

In T20Is, Heinrich Klaasen featured in 58 matches, scored 1,000 runs at a strike rate of 141.84, and registered five fifties. He also played four Test matches, scoring 104 runs at an average of 13.00.

READ: Australia to tour Pakistan for white-ball series in 2026, confirms CA

MIRPUR: Emerging players from the Bangladesh and South Africa teams were involved in a physical interaction during the second unofficial Test here at the Shere Bangla National Stadium on Wednesday.

The incident happened during the 104th over of Bangladesh’s innings. Ripon Mondol from Bangladesh and Tshepo Ntluli from South Africa had a heated exchange.

The verbal altercation that escalated into a physical confrontation started when Ripon Mondol hit a six off Tshepo Ntluli’s first ball of the over.

Ntluli went up to Ripon and pushed him, causing a tense standoff. In reply, Ripon attempted to push Ntluli away multiple times, but the South African player persisted.

The situation worsened further when Ntluli seized Ripon’s helmet and pulled it, resulting in a physical scuffle between the two players. The umpires, who eventually intervened to calm the situation.

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Meanwhile, the match is not an official one and does not hold first-class status, but disciplinary action may still be taken against the players involved, a Bangladesh news outlet reported.

Following the scuffle, the Match referee, Salim Shahed, hinted at reviewing the fight to determine any potential disciplinary actions.

“Once I receive the umpires’ report, I will prepare my report with suggestions of punishment,” he said.

“I will send that two both boards so that they can take action based on my report,” Shahed said while adding that another South Africa had already served a one-match suspension during the one-day series.

Furthermore, Nabil Kaiser, one of the on-air commentators, called the fight an extreme level of confrontation.

“This is extreme, this is unacceptable. Normally we see verbal altercations in a cricket field but we don’t often see a scuffle. Ntuli struck Ripon’s helmet at one point,” he said.

For the unversed, the ongoing four-day match is the second and final game between Bangladesh and the South Africa Emerging side. The Proteas lost the one-day series 2-1, while the first four-day match in Chattogram ended in a draw.

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DUBAI: The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Friday confirmed the panel of match officials for the upcoming World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25 final.

The much-anticipated Test is set to be played between South Africa and Australia at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground from June 11 to 15.

New Zealand’s Chris Gaffaney and England’s Richard Illingworth will be the on-field umpires for the high-stakes encounter.

Illingworth continues to cement his reputation as a go-to figure for marquee Test matches.

This will be his third consecutive WTC final, making him the only umpire to officiate on-field in all three deciders since the tournament’s inception.

The veteran Englishman is also the reigning ICC Umpire of the Year, having clinched the David Shepherd Trophy for a record fourth time in 2024.

Gaffaney, a familiar face in ICC knockouts, had previously partnered with Illingworth in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 final and was also part of the umpiring team for the WTC 2023 final between India and Australia.

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England’s Richard Kettleborough, another experienced campaigner with multiple ICC finals under his belt, has been appointed as the TV umpire for this year’s final.

He was in the same role during the 2021 WTC final between India and New Zealand.

India’s Nitin Menon will be the fourth umpire, marking his WTC final debut in this capacity. Menon had earlier served as the TV umpire in the 2021 T20 World Cup final.

Former Indian fast bowler and seasoned match official Javagal Srinath has been named the match referee.

ICC Chair Jay Shah praised the experience and consistency of the appointed officials and expressed full confidence in their ability to deliver at the sport’s highest level.

“We are pleased to announce an experienced team of match officials for the ICC World Test Championship Final at Lord’s, marking the culmination of a highly competitive two-year cycle of Test matches played around the world,” Shah said.

“We strive to select the most qualified and deserving officials for all matches, and we are confident they will perform admirably. On behalf of the ICC, I wish them all the best and hope they enjoy this assignment,” he added.

READ: Angelo Mathews announces retirement from Test cricket

DUBAI: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced a record prize money for the World Test Championship (WTC) 2023–25 Final, scheduled to be played at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground from June 11 to 15.

The total prize pot has been set at a staggering USD $5.76 million, more than double the amount awarded in the previous two cycles.

The champions of this edition will take home USD $3.6 million, a significant jump from the USD $1.6 million awarded to both New Zealand (2021) and Australia (2023).

Meanwhile, the runners-up will pocket USD $2.16 million, compared to $800,000 in earlier editions.

South Africa were the first to book their place in the final, topping the WTC standings on the back of series victories against Pakistan, West Indies, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka, along with a drawn home series against India.

Australia joined them by clinching the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 3-1 against India, adding to earlier series wins over Pakistan, New Zealand, and Sri Lanka.

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South African skipper Temba Bavuma expressed his pride and ambition ahead of the summit clash.

“We’re really pleased to have made the World Test Championship Final, which is a good opportunity for us to win an ICC title,” Bavuma said.

“Lord’s is a fitting venue for this mega fixture and all of us will be out there trying to give our best against Australia. The anticipation is increasing with less than one month to go.”

Australian captain Pat Cummins echoed similar sentiments as his side prepares to defend their title.

“We are enormously proud to have the opportunity to defend the World Test Championship, especially at Lord’s,” Cummins said.

“It’s a testament to all those involved over the last two years. We’re excited about the challenge South Africa will present at the home of cricket.”

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Captain Pat Cummins, fellow quick bowler Josh Hazlewood and all-rounder Cameron Green were all named Tuesday in the 15-man squad of Australia for the World Test Championship (WTC) final against South Africa at Lord’s next month.

Cummins (ankle) and Hazlewood (hip and calf) missed Australia’s most recent Test series in Sri Lanka because of injury, but both have successfully returned to action in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

Green returns to the squad for the first time since undergoing back surgery in October last year.

Exciting 19-year-old batsman Sam Konstas also gets the nod after being left out of the squad that won both Tests in Sri Lanka and is in line to open alongside Usman Khawaja.

Konstas made an explosive start to his Test career against India in December, hitting 60 from 65 balls at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) with six fours and two sixes.

Hazlewood has taken 18 wickets to be third on the IPL bowling charts since coming back from injury. But he sat out Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s last match 10 days ago with a shoulder niggle.

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Notably, Australia could become the first to retain the WTC when they face South Africa at Lord’s from June 11, having beaten India in the previous final at the Oval in 2023.

It’s worth noting that Cameron Green is already in England, on a five-match county stint for Gloucestershire, where he has been playing as a batter only and scored a century in his first game back after surgery.

“We are fortunate and looking forward to having Pat, Josh and Cam back in the squad,” said chair of selectors George Bailey.

“The team finished the WTC cycle with an impressive series victory in Sri Lanka following an equally strong summer in defeating India for the first time in a decade.”

The same squad will fly on to the West Indies for three Tests in Barbados, Grenada and Jamaica from June 25.

Australia squad for WTC Final against South Africa

Pat Cummins (capt), 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

READ: South Africa announce squad for WTC final against Australia

JOHANNESBURG: Cricket South Africa (CSA) on Tuesday unveiled a 15-member squad for the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2025 Final against Australia, set to begin on June 11 at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground in London.

This marks South Africa’s maiden appearance in a WTC Final, after topping the points table with an impressive 69.44% points percentage, a campaign that saw them win 8 out of 12 Tests.

Temba Bavuma will lead the side in this historic showdown, and the Proteas have received a timely boost with the return of fast bowler Lungi Ngidi.

Having recovered from a groin injury that sidelined him during the home season, Ngidi has since proven his fitness in white-ball cricket and international T20 leagues, making a strong case for his selection.

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To accommodate Ngidi’s return, young pacer Kwena Maphaka, who was part of the squad against Pakistan, has been left out, while top-order batter Matthew Breetzke also misses the cut.

South Africa’s batting unit will be powered by Tony de Zorzi, Ryan Rickelton, and Aiden Markram at the top, followed by a solid middle order featuring captain Bavuma, Tristan Stubbs, David Bedingham and wicketkeeper Kyle Verreynne.

The Proteas’ pace attack looks formidable with Kagiso Rabada, Marco Jansen, Wiaan Mulder, Dane Paterson, and Corbin Bosch joining Ngidi.

The spin department includes Keshav Maharaj and Senuran Muthusamy, offering variety and control in English conditions.

South Africa squad for WTC Final against Australia

Temba Bavuma (captain), Tony de Zorzi, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Marco Jansen, Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi, Corbin Bosch, Kyle Verreynne, David Bedingham, Tristan Stubbs, Ryan Rickelton, Senuran Muthusamy, Dane Paterson.

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LAHORE: New Zealand have won the toss and opted to bat first against South Africa in the 2nd Semi-Final of the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 here at Gaddafi Stadium on Tuesday.

Playing XIs

South Africa: Temba Bavuma (c), Ryan Rickelton, Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klaasen (wk), David Miller, Wiaan Mulder, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi

New Zealand: Will Young, Rachin Ravindra, Kane Williamson, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham (wk), Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner (c), Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Will O’Rourke

Catch every Champions Trophy update here!

The ongoing 2025 edition marked the return of the ICC Champions Trophy after an eight-year break, with the last tournament being held in 2017, where Pakistan defeated their arch-rivals India in the final.

The tournament began with the teams divided into two groups. Group A featured Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and New Zealand. Meanwhile, Group B included Afghanistan, England, Australia, and South Africa.

Each team played three group-stage matches, and the top two from each group secured a spot in the semi-finals. From Group A, India and New Zealand advanced, while South Africa and Australia progressed from Group B.

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