Australia vs South Africa: WTC 2025 Final at Lord's

The 2025 ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final is set to be a blockbuster clash between defending champions Australia and a resurgent South Africa. The much-anticipated match will take place at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground in London, starting on June 11. The upcoming final brings with it not just the prestige of being crowned the best Test team in the world, but also a record-breaking prize pool that reflects the International Cricket Council’s renewed focus on red-ball cricket.

Prize Money Sees Massive Boost

The champions of the 2025 World Test Championship will walk away with a staggering $3.6 million — more than double the amount awarded in the previous edition. In 2023, Australia received $1.6 million after defeating India in the final. This time, the runners-up won’t go empty-handed either. They will receive $2.1 million, a significant rise from the $800,000 given to the losing sides in both 2021 and 2023.

“The increase in prize money exhibits the ICC’s efforts to prioritise Test cricket as it looks to build on the momentum of the first three cycles of the nine-team competition,” said the ICC in an official statement on Thursday.

Road to the Final: South Africa and Australia

South Africa finished their WTC campaign strongly, clinching 2-0 home series victories against both Sri Lanka and Pakistan. They ended the league stage with 69.44 percentage points, earning a spot in the final for the first time. Defending champions Australia, on the other hand, secured their place in the final with 67.54 percentage points. Despite India topping the table for the majority of the cycle, a dip in form towards the end saw them finish third with exactly 50.00 percentage points.

Leaders React Ahead of the Mega Clash

The Australian side, led by Pat Cummins, is eyeing back-to-back titles and is thrilled to be playing at the historic Lord’s venue.

“We are enormously proud to have the opportunity to defend the World Test Championship, especially at Lord’s. It’s a testament to all those involved across the past two years who have worked incredibly hard to reach the final, which is a great honour for all of us,” said Australian captain Pat Cummins.

On the other side, South African skipper Temba Bavuma emphasized the relevance of the longest format of the game and the platform the WTC provides.

“Everyone understands the importance of Test cricket and the World Test Championship lends context to this vital format of the game. Lord’s is a fitting venue for this mega fixture and all of us will be out there trying to give our best against Australia,” said Bavuma.

A New Era for Test Cricket?

This significant bump in prize money and global attention reaffirms the ICC’s mission to preserve and grow the popularity of Test cricket. With both finalists boasting rich cricketing history and solid recent form, fans can expect a thrilling encounter. As the two sides gear up for a clash at the ‘Home of Cricket’, the stakes couldn’t be higher — both in terms of pride and prize.

About the Author
Arpit Sharma is a sports writer and journalism student at Chandigarh University, with a strong interest in sports analysis and storytelling. His writing combines match insights with a fresh, fan-first perspective that brings the game to life.

Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Vygr's views.

With inputs from agencies
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