South Africa’s thrilling 5-wicket win over Australia secured the World Test Championship 2025 title. This historic victory marked only the second time the Proteas have claimed an ICC trophy.
In the final match, South Africa was set a target of 282 runs, which they achieved on the fourth day of the test. Australia, the defending champion, failed to retain their title. So, what were the three key reasons behind Australia’s inability to win the WTC trophy for the second consecutive time?
Key Factors in Australia’s Loss
The Australian batting lineup collapsed in the second innings. After scoring 212 runs in the first innings, their bowlers restricted South Africa to 138 runs, gaining a 74-run lead. With three days remaining, Australia had the opportunity to set a formidable target. However, their batting faltered, losing 7 wickets for just 73 runs. Alex Carey and Mitchell Starc’s contributions helped the team reach 207 runs. If Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, and other batsmen had scored more runs, Australia could have set a target of over 400 runs for South Africa.
Nathan Lyon’s Limited Overs
The final match saw the dominance of fast bowlers, but as the third day progressed, the ball began to spin significantly. With South Africa’s Aiden Markram and Temba Bavuma settling in, Nathan Lyon’s spinning deliveries could have made a difference. However, the Australian captain gave Lyon short spells, particularly in the final overs of the third day. When Markram and Bavuma were batting cautiously, a more attacking field setup with Lyon’s bowling could have helped Australia pick up wickets and build pressure.
Poor Playing Eleven Selection
Australia’s selection of Cameron Green as a batsman led to Marnus Labuschagne opening the innings. This decision backfired, as Labuschagne scored only 39 runs in both innings, while Green managed just 4 runs. A better approach might have been to have Labuschagne bat at his usual number-3 position and open with Sam Konselas, who had impressed in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against India.
These strategic mistakes ultimately cost Australia the match, allowing South Africa to claim the World Test Championship 2025 title.