The World Test Championship (WTC) 2025 final is set to commence on June 11 at the Lord’s Cricket Ground in London, where South Africa aims to end their title drought against the defending champions, Australia.
The Proteas qualified for the finals by concluding the 2023-25 cycle as table toppers with 100 points and a points percentage (PCT) of 69.44%.
On the other hand, the Aussies entered their second consecutive final closely after a massive triumph over India by 3-1 in the Border Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25. This helped the Pat-Cummins-led side rank second in the points table with 154 points and a PCT of 67.54%.
Let’s take a look at how these two teams performed in test cricket at Lord’s, which can be helpful to predict the winner of the WTC 2025 final.
South Africa’s Performance in 18 Tests at Lord’s Since 1907
Out of 18 tests played at Lord’s since 1907, South Africa managed to win only 6 of them, which includes 8 losses and 4 draws.
Since 1994, the Proteas have made a tremendous comeback by winning 5 out of the last 7 matches at this venue, thereby enhancing their success rate to 33.33%.
As a result, South Africa possesses the record of triumphing in six or more tests at this iconic ground, which no other visiting side has managed to accomplish this feat.
Australia’s Performance in Tests at Lord’s Since 1884
Over the past 140 years, Australia has won 18 out of 40 tests at Lord’s (since 1884) and boasts a tremendous success rate of 45%. This is even superior to the hosts England’s tally of 40.68%.
Moreover, the Aussies dominate the stats by emerging victorious in their last 5 out of 8 tests at this venue, having lost just three of them in the past century.
South Africa vs Australia Head-to-Head Tests Records At Lord’s (Before WTC 2025 Final)
Only once did South Africa and Australia face off against each other in tests at Lord’s back on 15th July 1912. Since then, these two teams haven’t competed in whites at a neutral venue.
The Syd Gregory-led Australia secured a comfortable 10-wicket victory over the Proteas. Here is how both teams performed at Lord’s 113 years back:
- 1st Innings:
- South Africa’s Total: 263 all out in 89 overs.
- Australia’s Total: 390 all out in 128.5 overs.
- South Africa’s Top Scoring Batsmen: Herbie Taylor (93 runs) and Louis Stricker (48 runs).
- Australia’s Top Scoring Batsmen: Charles Kelleway (102 runs) and Warren Bardsley (164 runs).
- South Africa’s Top Wicket Takers: Sid Pegler (4/79 in 29.5 overs) and Dave Nourse (3/60 in 3 overs).
- Australia’s Top Wicket Taker: Bill Whitty (4/68 in 31 overs).
- 2nd Innings:
- South Africa’s Total: 173 all out in 57.1 overs.
- Australia’s Total: 48/0 in 12.1 overs.
- South Africa’s Top Scoring Batsmen: Charlie Llewellyn (59 runs)
- Australia’s Top Scoring Batsmen: Claude Jennings (22 runs) and Ernie Mayne (25 runs)
- Australia’s Top Wicket Taker: Jimmy Matthews (4/2 in 13 overs) and Charles Macartney (3/29 in 14.1 overs)
Apart from this match, two more tests were played in the same red-ball series, which includes the Aussies’ dominating win in the Manchester clash by an innings and 88 runs, while the Nottingham encounter concluded in a draw.
WTC 2025 Winner Prediction at Lord’s: South Africa or Australia?
As these two teams clash against each other in tests at Lord’s after 113 years, Australia has a higher chance to defend their title in the WTC 2025 final.
Moreover, Australia’s success rate in the longest format at this venue is 45%, which is much higher compared to South Africa’s 33.33%.
Most importantly, Australians have won 10 ICC trophies and would be confident enough to aim and add another to their name.
On the other hand, South Africa will be under pressure as they have a long history of choking in the ICC knockouts since their last victory in the inaugural season of the Champions Trophy in 1998.
In conclusion, both teams need to make use of their potential to lift the highly coveted WTC trophy at a neutral venue.
