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As the countdown begins for the World Test Championship (WTC) 2025 Final at Lord’s starting June 11, Australian captain Pat Cummins has acknowledged the fresh dynamic brought into the high-stakes contest with South Africa emerging as his side’s opponent.
Pat Cummins gives blunt take on India missing WTC 2025 Final
The final will mark a significant shift in the pattern of recent ICC Test finals, as India, finalists in both 2021 and 2023, will not feature in this edition. Speaking to The Guardian, Cummins noted his enthusiasm over seeing a different team in the finals and commended the competitive merit of the Proteas. He remarked that India’s consistency had made them a regular fixture in finals, and while their absence is notable, it opens up new possibilities in terms of rivalry and match dynamics. He also recognized the efforts of teams like England and New Zealand, who have remained strong contenders in Test cricket.
“In some ways you expect India to be around. England have been quite strong at home and New Zealand always seem to get to finals. But the same case could be made for South Africa in ICC events. We just don’t see a lot of them in Test cricket but it’s nice and different to an Australia-India final,” Cummins said.
The Lord’s Test will be yet another opportunity for Cummins to extend his dominance as a captain in ICC events. Under his leadership, Australia clinched both the WTC 2023 title and the ODI World Cup 2023, triumphing over India on both occasions.
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Addressing criticism over South Africa’s easier route to the final
Reflecting on South Africa’s presence in the upcoming final, Cummins expressed both surprise and respect. While the Proteas haven’t played a high number of Test matches in recent cycles, their ability to stay competitive and reach a major final did not go unnoticed. Cummins highlighted that despite their relative scarcity in the longer format, South Africa continues to perform with an impressive bowling unit, which is often the cornerstone of success in Test cricket.
Cummins also singled out Keshav Maharaj as a vital element in South Africa’s attack, calling the left-arm spinner ‘really solid,’ and stressed that their arsenal of pace bowlers continues to be among the most challenging in world cricket. His words reflect both strategic respect and the anticipation of a tough contest at the iconic Lord’s venue.
“You can only beat who you come up against. Our route to the final was pretty tough but I don’t blame South Africa for having a different route. Their bowling has always stood out and it’s no different now. Keshav Maharaj is a really solid spinner and they’ve always got plenty of quick bowlers who pose a challenge,” Cummins concluded.
