The team is along the expected lines, with most players retaining their places after doing well throughout the cycle.
South Africa have named their squad for the World Test Champions (WTC) 2025 final against Australia. The team is along the expected lines, with most players retaining their places after doing well throughout the cycle.
Tony de Zorzi, Aiden Markram, and Ryan Rickelton will form the top order. Markram has been permanent in the Test unit, while Rickelton earns a spot after a fabulous double century against Pakistan in South Africa’s previous Test assignment at home.
The captain, Temba Bavuma, Tristan Stubbs, who has had a decent start to his Test career, and David Bedingham, a red-ball specialist, will form the middle order. They all did well at different stages in the WTC cycle and are the best options against a strong Australian pace attack.
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Meanwhile, Kyle Verreynne will act as a wicketkeeper batter and bat in the lower middle order. Verreynne has been among the most consistent batters in South Africa’s domestic competition and averages over 50 in First Class cricket.
Marco Jansen, Wiaan Mulder and Corbin Bosch are the all-rounders, with the former two likely to feature in the XI. Bosch did exceptionally well in his only Test, scoring 81 runs and snaring five wickets but might not get a spot due to Jansen’s presence.
Meanwhile, the pace attack bolsters big names like Kagiso Rabada, who has served his suspension for drug recreation, and Lungi Ngidi, who missed the Pakistan Tests due to a groin injury. Ngidi’s return means Anrich Nortje doesn’t find a place in the squad, even though he has recovered from a back injury and featured in IPL 2025.
Dane Paterson is the other pacer named in the squad but might have to sit out of the XI, unless one of Rabada or Ngidi gets injured before the game. The spin attack boasts experienced Keshav Maharaj, while Senuran Muthusamy is the other specialist spinner in the team.
South Africa have made only two changes from their 16-man Pakistan squad, leaving out Kwena Maphaka for Lungi Ngidi and Matthew Breetzke. The World Test Championship final will be played from June 11-15 at the iconic Lord’s.
Temba Bavuma (c), 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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