Amid the crisis that befell Australia on the opening morning of the World Test Championship Final at Lord’s, Steve Smith stood out as a beacon of surety set to sail to the rescue again.
‘Oh man’: Big review fail that could cost South Africa WTC final as even Steve Smith left stunned
South African superstar Kagiso Rabada’s heart sunk when he first learned of the blunder that could cost South Africa the World Test Championship.
Cummins’ blunt ‘message’ to ‘frustrating’ Marnus; shock hero’s rise saves Aussies — Talking Pts
The World Test Championship decider between Australia and South Africa is shaping as a compelling affair after a bowler-dominated opening day at Lord’s, with the final in the balance after the Aussies launched a final session counter-attack.
Ruthless Australians wrestle back control of WTC final as fast bowlers wreak havoc at Lord’s
Kagiso Rabada added his name to the Lord’s Honours Board for a second time before Australia’s world-class pace attack dismantled the South African top order as Pat Cummins’ men seized control of the World Test Championship final.
Unthinkable World Test Championship scenario explained as surprise switch revealed
On the eve of the World Test Championship final between Australia and South Africa, both teams trained under overcast skies at Lord’s on Tuesday before the weather started to clear.
What $5.5m gamble means for Konstas; truth behind England great’s Cummins dig: Burning Qs
Australia has retained the Urn, triumphed over India on home shores and beaten almost everyone else to qualify for the World Test Championship Final beginning at Lord’s on Wednesday night, AEST.
‘The only way they lose’: Former Test star’s verdict as key to Aussie WTC glory emerges
Australian white-ball veteran Moises Henriques sees Pat Cummins’ side as “hot favourites” to retain the 2025 World Test Championship (WTC) Final against South Africa, starting Wednesday at Lord’s.
Incongruity of World Test Championship final fails to dampen Australian excitement | Geoff Lemon
It may be a strange time of year for an Australian, and a strange tournament structure, but the decider is vindicated further each time it is played
In Australia it is winter, and it is footy season. AFL, NRL, the works. The autumn was passing strange, with unnervingly high temperatures and the Gold Coast Suns in the top four. But now it is June, and feeling more as it should, with nights in the southern half of the continent dipping deep into single degrees. The Raiders must be breathing out steam on Canberra mornings, half remembering dreams of ending a premiership wait. And strangely positioned among all this, the Australia Test team is getting ready to play cricket.
Australian winter tours happen, but outside the occasional Asian or Caribbean jaunt this century, they’re confined to quadrennial visits to England. Two years ago, the first time Australia qualified for a World Test Championship final, that match came directly before an Ashes series. As well as turning the supposed culmination into an incongruous appetizer, it also made the WTC final melt into the Ashes summer.
Continue reading...‘Rewarding guys who got us here’: Marnus call explained as Aussie WTC final XI named
Australian captain Pat Cummins has backed Marnus Labuschagne to repay the faith of selectors in the World Test Championship final against South Africa beginning at Lord’s on Wednesday.
‘Beggars can’t be choosers’: Uzzie’s stern words for Marnus ahead of major WTC move
Usman Khawaja once joked that Marnus Labuschagne had “opening-itis” but suggested that his Queensland teammate may have to suck it up and get over it ahead of the World Test Championship final against South Africa at Lords starting Wednesday.
Aussie great and Indian icon among new crop added to the ICC Hall of Fame
India’s Mahendra Singh Dhoni and South Africa’s Hashim Amla and Graeme Smith were among seven new inductees into the International Cricket Council Hall of Fame announced Monday.
Ashes villain’s ‘enlightening’ tips for South Africa as Aussies stare down Lord’s members’ wrath
As an English arch-enemy offered tips to South Africa on how to dethrone Australia in the World Test Championship decider, Steve Smith declared he had no concerns about whether the Aussies will cop the wrath of MCC members at Lord’s.
Cummins can’t resist sly dig at Poms as Aussie fuse lit over Lord’s call
Pat Cummins has taken a sly dig at the Poms on a bizarre day where the Aussie team was booted from Lord’s just days before the World Test Championship final.
Heartache turns to hope as South Africa seek to shake ‘chokers’ tag in WTC final | Daniel Gallan
The Proteas choking when it matters most is a tale as old as the country itself as history again weighs heavy on their World Test Championship hopes
A South African cricket fan’s standout World Cup catastrophe will depend on when they were born. Baby boomers cite the time, back in 1992, when Brian McMillan was left needing 22 runs off one ball after rain in Sydney washed away any hope of a chase. Millennials are forever haunted by Alan Donald’s dropped bat in that tied semi-final in 1999. Gen Zs must still be wondering how Heinrich Klaasen and David Miller failed to get over the line with 30 needed off as many balls in last year’s T20 final.
The Proteas choking when it matters most is a tale as old as the country itself. Longer, in fact, if you consider that Nelson Mandela was elected president two years after this story began. And throughout it all, one antagonist has loomed largest.
Continue reading...‘Bowling the best I have’: Josh Hazlewood stakes claim for WTC final spot
34-year-old giving selectors headaches after strong form in IPL
Australia fast bowler missed last World Test Championship decider
Buoyed by an outstanding IPL, Australia quick Josh Hazlewood feels he is bowling better than at any point in his decorated career.
Struck down by niggling injuries in recent years, Hazlewood could be forgiven for starting to taper having already taken 279 wickets from 72 Tests.
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