AB de Villiers picks South Africa’s bowling attack for WTC final against Australia at Lord’s

The highly anticipated ICC World Test Championship (WTC) Final is set to take place at Lord’s Cricket Ground from June 11 to 15, with June 16 reserved as a reserve day in case of weather interruptions. This marks the first time Lord’s will host the WTC final, following New Zealand’s victory over India in 2021 at The Rose Bowl, Southampton, and Australia’s triumph over India in 2023 at The Oval, London.

The final will see defending champions Australia face off against South Africa in a thrilling showdown between two cricketing powerhouses. Led by Pat Cummins, Australia will aim to retain their title and become the first team to win back-to-back WTC finals. Meanwhile, South Africa will be vying for their first ICC trophy in any format since their 1998 Champions Trophy victory.

Road to the WTC Final

South Africa secured their spot in the final with an impressive campaign, winning 8 out of 12 matches and finishing with a points percentage (PCT) of 69.44. Their success was built on a formidable pace attack led by Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen, complemented by consistent batting from Aiden Markram and captain Temba Bavuma. Despite setbacks in away series, the Proteas dominated at home and edged out contenders like India (50.00 PCT), England (47.25 PCT), and New Zealand (45.00 PCT).

Australia, on the other hand, continued their dominance in Test cricket, finishing second with 13 wins from 19 matches and a PCT of 67.54. Their campaign was highlighted by standout performances in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, crucial spells from Scott Boland and Mitchell Starc, and consistent contributions from Steve Smith and Travis Head. Having clinched the 2023 WTC title, Australia now looks to solidify their legacy by becoming the first team to win consecutive WTC finals.

AB de Villiers on South Africa’s Bowling Attack

Former South African captain AB de Villiers shared his insights on the ideal bowling combination for the Proteas in the WTC final. While some fans suggested an all-pace attack featuring Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Jansen, and Wiaan Mulder, de Villiers emphasized the importance of including a specialist spinner. He advocated for Keshav Maharaj to be part of the playing XI, stating that his presence brings balance and control, even at Lord’s, which traditionally favors pace over spin.

“I feel you still need your spinner in the form of Keshav Maharaj, even though you’re playing at Lord’s, which generally doesn’t take a lot of spin. It’s more about controlling the game and the pace of the game. You always need a spinner, so I wouldn’t go with an all-out pace attack,” De Villiers explained.