The ICC World Test Championship Final 2025 will be contested between South Africa and Australia, commencing on June 11th. This historic match will be played at the renowned Lord's Cricket Ground in London and will run from June 11th to 15th.
Sports News: Cricket enthusiasts' eyes are once again fixed on the World Test Championship (WTC) final, where Australia and South Africa will face off at the historic Lord's Cricket Ground starting June 11th. This clash is not only for the trophy but also an opportunity to etch their names in cricket history.
However, considering the likelihood of rain and England's unpredictable weather, a significant question arises: who will be crowned champion if the match ends in a draw?
South Africa's First Final Appearance, Australia's Second Shot at the Trophy
Australia will once again be captained by Pat Cummins, who has the experience of winning the 2023 WTC Final against India. Meanwhile, South Africa is making its debut in the Championship final and, under captain Temba Bavuma, aims to create history.
South Africa topped the WTC 2023-25 cycle points table, while Australia finished second. This suggests a more consistent performance from the African team during qualification, but the final presents a fresh start for both.
What Happens if the Match is a Draw? ICC's Rule
If the match, for any reason such as rain, poor light, or other causes, does not reach a decisive conclusion and ends in a draw, then under ICC rule 16.3.3, both teams will be declared joint winners. This means there will be no single champion; South Africa and Australia will share the World Test Championship 2025 trophy.
This rule was also in effect in previous editions. The WTC aims to make Test cricket more competitive, but the ICC acknowledges that the nature of Test cricket sometimes prevents a conclusive result. This provision accounts for that possibility.
A Reserve Day Provision
The ICC has designated June 16th as a reserve day to ensure the successful completion of the match. If time runs short during the match between June 11th and 15th, play will be extended to the reserve day. However, this day will only be used for overs lost due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances during the five-day period.
Prize Money to be Shared Equally
If the final is a draw and both teams are declared joint winners, the prize money will be divided equally. The ICC has set the total prize money for this year's WTC trophy at US$3.6 million (approximately ₹30.7 crore). In the event of a joint victory, each team will receive US$1.8 million (approximately ₹15.35 crore). A losing team typically receives US$2.16 million (approximately ₹18.53 crore), but this calculation will change in the case of a draw.
SA vs AUS WTC Final 2025 Schedule
- Dates: June 11th to 15th
- Reserve Day: June 16th
- Time: From 3 PM IST
- Venue: Lord's Cricket Ground
SA vs AUS Teams
South Africa: Tony de Zorzi, Ryan Rickelton, Aiden Markram, Temba Bavuma (Captain), David Bedingham, Tristan Stubbs, Kyle Verreynne, Wiaan Mulder, Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, Dane Paterson, Keshav Maharaj, and Senuran Muthusamy.
Australia: Usman Khawaja, Sam Contos, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Alex Carey, Josh Inglis, Cameron Green, Beau Webster, Pat Cummins (Captain), Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Scott Boland, Nathan Lyon, and Matt Kuhnemann.
