New Delhi: South Africa has officially named its 15-member squad for the upcoming ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final against Australia, set to be held at Lord’s Cricket Ground in London from June 11 to 15. This marks the Proteas’ first-ever appearance in a WTC final after three championship cycles.
Temba Bavuma will lead the side in what is being called the “Ultimate Test” following South Africa’s strong run in the 2023–25 WTC cycle, where they finished at the top of the standings. One of the notable inclusions is pacer Lungi Ngidi, who returns to the red-ball format after recovering from a groin injury. Head coach Shukri Conrad expressed his satisfaction with Ngidi’s return, calling him a valuable asset to their bowling unit.
Defining moments. Unshakable character. This is what Test cricket’s all about 🏏.
As we look to the battle that awaits, we acknowledge growth and reward perseverance 💪👏.
This isn’t just a squad; it’s a statement of intent and a true reflection of grit 🇿🇦.#WTC25 #WozaNawe… pic.twitter.com/qa1de9NFWX
— Proteas Men (@ProteasMenCSA) May 13, 2025
Head coach Sukri Conrad was happy with his return and believes the right-arm pacer would boost the fast bowling resources in the setup. He said, “I’m particularly pleased to welcome Lungi back on the side. He’s put in the work and offers us an experienced option with the ball.”
The coach lauded all the selected players for their dedication and the strides they’ve made in building a strong red-ball unit. South Africa featured in 12 matches during the 2023–25 World Test Championship cycle and came out victorious in eight of them. They kicked off the campaign with a 1-1 home draw against India but stumbled with a 0-2 series defeat in New Zealand. However, the Proteas rebounded impressively, securing back-to-back series wins against the West Indies (1-0), Bangladesh (2-0 away), South Africa A (2-0 at home), and Pakistan (2-0 at home).
South Africa squad for the 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.
Their opponents unveiled their 15-man squad earlier on Tuesday for the Championship.
Australia squad for the WTC final:
Pat Cummins (captain), 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.
Travelling reserve: Brendan Doggett.
South Africa names 15-man squad for their first-ever World Test Championship final against Australia, with Temba Bavuma set to lead the Proteas. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
