South Africa announce playing XI for WTC final, Corbin Bosch misses out

South African skipper Temba Bavuma has announced the playing XI for the highly anticipated World Test Championship (WTC) final against Australia at the Lord`s Cricket Ground.

Bavuma, South Africa`s leading run scorer in Test cricket since December 2019, headlines a well-balanced lineup with several offers across all three departments of the game. After a successful IPL 2025 campaign with Mumbai Indians, the Proteas have shown trust in Ryan Rickelton. On the other hand, Corbin Bosch, who made little contributions in the concluded league, failed to cement his spot in the national squad.

“If I look at the last four or five years in Test cricket, I think I`ve been more than a solid performer. I`ve probably scored the most runs within the team. My average has been up there,” Bavuma, exuding an air of confidence ahead of the final, was earlier quoted as saying.

South Africa have lost just one match at the Lord`s since 1991, having come victorious on five occasions and have drawn one match. Australia, meanwhile, have registered 18 wins out of their 40 Test matches at the historic venue. The WTC final against Australia will also mark South Africa`s first-ever title clash after topping the 2023-25 standings with a 69.44-point percentage.

On the other hand, the Pat Cummins-led Australia will be looking to retain the mace that they claimed after defeating India in the previous edition of the World Test Championship Final at the Oval in June 2023. Australia hasn`t lost a Test series in the past two years, winning away in New Zealand and Sri Lanka while retaining the Ashes in England in 2023.

They also defeated Pakistan and India at home, along with a draw against the West Indies, to secure a spot in the WTC decider against the Proteas.

With Australia entering their second consecutive WTC final and South Africa making their first appearance, the stakes couldn`t be higher. Australia, led by Pat Cummins, come in with the experience of having won the title in 2023, while the Proteas are looking to script a new chapter in their red-ball history.

South Africa playing XI: Temba Bavuma (c), Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton, Wiaan Mulder, Tristan Stubbs, David Bedingham, Kyle Verrynne, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi.

(With ANI Inputs)

This article first appeared on Mid Day