WTC Final: Will Messrs Starc, Cummins, Hazlewood and Lyon, who have never won ICC Test silverware together, blow South Africa away?
As the World Test Championship (WTC) Final 2025 looms large, cricket fans around the world are gearing up for an epic clash between two fierce competitors—Australia and South Africa. While both sides boast talent, experience, and ambition, the spotlight this time is firmly on Australia’s fearsome bowling quartet: Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, and Nathan Lyon.
These four have terrorized batting line-ups for over a decade, delivering memorable performances across continents. But despite their dominance, there’s one glaring omission from their glittering resumes: an ICC Test trophy won together. With age catching up and competition rising, this WTC final could be their last shot at etching their legacy in gold.
A Rare Combination of Pace and Spin Mastery
Australia’s bowling unit is the stuff of dreams—raw pace from Starc, relentless accuracy from Hazlewood, leadership and aggression from Cummins, and crafty off-spin from Lyon. Each bowler brings a unique skill set to the table:
- Mitchell Starc: Left-arm express with lethal yorkers and reverse swing.
- Josh Hazlewood: McGrath-esque in his line and length, unerringly consistent.
- Pat Cummins: Current captain and spearhead, leading from the front with pace and bounce.
- Nathan Lyon: Australia’s most successful off-spinner, capable of holding up one end or running through a side on a turning track.
Together, they’ve dismantled some of the best batting line-ups. But oddly enough, they haven’t shared a podium moment in an ICC Test final together. Injuries, scheduling conflicts, or poor team form often kept one or more of them out of key moments. The 2023 WTC final win over India, for example, had contributions from some but didn’t feel like a complete ‘quartet victory’.
This time, though, they are all fit. All hungry. And most importantly, all united in their pursuit of one final goal.
South Africa: No Pushovers
While the narrative in Australia may center around their star-studded attack, South Africa is quietly plotting their own historic triumph. Their recent form in red-ball cricket has been impressive, built on the foundation of their own potent bowling attack featuring Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, and rising star Marco Jansen.
The Proteas’ batting line-up, led by Temba Bavuma, Aiden Markram, and David Bedingham, has grown in resilience. They know what’s at stake. A WTC title would not only end a long ICC drought but also reassert South Africa’s place in cricket’s elite.
But make no mistake—breaking through Australia’s famed bowling unit won’t be easy.
Legacy on the Line
For the Australian quartet, this final is more than just another Test match. It’s a chance to silence the few critics who dare question their legacy due to the lack of a major ICC Test win as a complete unit.
- Starc, now in his mid-30s, may not feature in another WTC cycle.
- Hazlewood has battled injuries and may be approaching the twilight of his red-ball career.
- Cummins, though still in top form, is juggling the pressures of captaincy across formats.
- Lyon, with over 500 Test wickets, would love to end his career with a major title.
If they win together, it could go down as one of the greatest bowling partnerships in cricket history, not just in terms of numbers, but in terms of impact and silverware.
The Pitch, The Conditions, The Strategy
The final will be played at Lord’s, a venue steeped in tradition and conducive to both seam and swing. Overcast conditions could favor Australia’s pace trio early on, while Lyon could come into play in the fourth innings when the pitch begins to wear.
Australia’s success will largely depend on how well the bowlers rotate, maintain pressure, and work in partnerships. If South Africa bat long or manage to blunt the new ball, the Aussies could be tested like never before.
The key will also be reverse swing, something Starc and Cummins have used devastatingly in the past. If the ball gets scuffed early, expect them to bring the game alive in a few overs.
More Than Just a Trophy
This final represents more than just silverware. It symbolizes an era of Australian dominance in Test cricket—a culmination of years of consistency, hard work, and grit. These four bowlers have carried Australia through countless series victories, Ashes triumphs, and historic wins overseas.
But as they stand just one game away from the one thing that’s eluded them as a group, the stakes have never been higher.
Can they produce one last collective masterpiece?
Prediction: A Final to Remember
Given the form of both teams, this match is too close to call. If conditions suit swing bowling, Australia’s pace trio could blow South Africa away. If the pitch holds and South Africa’s batters dig in, we could be in for a classic five-day epic.
Regardless of the result, fans will remember this WTC Final as the stage where four Australian greats made one final push for immortality.
