World Test Championship: Australia’s road to the 2025 WTC Final

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Australia’s formidable men’s cricket team has once again asserted its dominance in Test cricket, clinching a coveted spot in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) Final for the second consecutive cycle. Their journey to Lord’s for the 2025 grand finale has been a testament of their exceptional squad depth, unwavering resilience and an unyielding winning mentality across diverse conditions.

The WTC campaign for the Aussies commenced with the Ashes series in England during June-July 2023. This fiercely contested five-match series concluded in a 2-2 draw, but crucial early victories at Edgbaston and Lord’s provided significant momentum. Despite subsequent losses at Headingley and The Oval, and a rain-affected draw at Old Trafford, the points accumulated from this marquee series laid a strong foundation for their championship bid.

Returning to home soil, Australia showcased their formidable strength. They completed a comprehensive 3-0 whitewash over Pakistan, underlining the potency of their pace attack and the consistent performance of their batting lineup. While the subsequent series against the West Indies saw a rare stumble, ending in a 1-1 draw, Australia’s overall home record remained exceptionally strong.

A defining characteristic of Australia’s campaign was their ability to secure crucial victories overseas. They demonstrated their adaptability by sweeping New Zealand 2-0 in their away series, thriving in challenging conditions. The tour of Sri Lanka also resulted in a dominant 2-0 triumph, with both spinners and lower-order batsmen stepping up impressively in subcontinental environments.

Perhaps the most emphatic statement came during their home series against India. Australia delivered a commanding performance, clinching the Border-Gavaskar Trophy with a 3-1 series triumph. This comprehensive victory not only avenged their previous 2021–22 defeat against India but also solidified their position atop the WTC points table, showcasing their superiority against a formidable opponent.

Australia concluded the WTC league stage with an impressive record of 13 wins, 2 draws and 4 losses from 19 matches, amassing a total of 154 points and an outstanding points percentage of 67.54%. This remarkable consistency ensured they finish second in the table, just behind South Africa, who concluded with a 69.44% points percentage.

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Under the astute leadership of Pat Cummins, Australia’s success has been anchored by the stability of its leadership group, featuring stalwarts like Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Travis Head and the ever-reliable bowling quartet of Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon. The emergence of promising all-rounders such as Cameron Green and the steady hand of Alex Carey behind the stumps have further added crucial depth and balance to a well-oiled machine.

As defending champions, Australia now enters the Lord’s final against South Africa with both invaluable experience and significant momentum.

Also READ: World Test Championship – South Africa’s road to the 2025 WTC Final