The ICC World Test Championship 2025 final is set to be a captivating contest between Australia and South Africa at the historic Lord’s Cricket Ground. All eyes will be on South African captain Temba Bavuma and former Australian captain Steve Smith, both key players for their respective teams in this WTC cycle. Bavuma’s South Africa has been in exceptional form, winning seven consecutive matches to reach the final. The performance of these two experienced batsmen could significantly influence the outcome of this high-stakes match.
Steve Smith has an outstanding Test career, amassing 10,271 runs in 206 innings across 116 matches, with an impressive average of 56.74. He boasts 36 centuries and 41 half-centuries, solidifying his position as one of Australia’s premier Test batsmen. Against South Africa, Smith has scored 854 runs in 21 innings across 13 Tests, maintaining an average of 44.94 with 2 centuries and 4 fifties. In the World Test Championship alone, he has scored 4,072 runs in 89 innings of 53 matches, at an average of 50.90, including 13 hundreds and 17 fifties.
Temba Bavuma, though having played fewer Tests, is a vital player for South Africa. He has played 63 Test matches, scoring 3,606 runs in 108 innings, with an average of 37.95, including 4 centuries and 24 half-centuries. Bavuma has played 9 matches against Australia, scoring 483 runs in 15 innings, with an average of 40.25. He has not yet scored a century against them, with his highest score being 95 not out. In the WTC, Bavuma has scored 1,890 runs in 49 innings across 28 matches at an average of 43.95, with 3 centuries and 11 fifties, making him the second-highest African run-scorer in the championship.
