- June 7, 2025
Thirteen years ago, South Africa last walked onto the turf at Lord’s with the ultimate goal of Test cricket in mind. In 2012, they achieved the No. 1 Test ranking with a tough win over England under the leadership of Graeme Smith – no final, no big occasion, just traditional Test cricket and quiet superiority.
It is now the year 2025, and South Africa finds itself back at Lord’s, but the situation is drastically different. In 2025, the World Test Championship final is at stake, and a much younger and inexperienced team is facing it head-on. They are at much higher stakes, a different format, and the history of the ground beckons once again, just in a different form.
When First Place Still Isn’t Enough?
Let’s be frank, the WTC final concept still seems a little strange. A team plays great cricket for two years, finishes first in the standings, and then… needs to win one more match to truly be considered champions? That’s tough. If the final is a draw? The trophy is shared. No semi-finals, no safety nets.
South Africa has already earned their stripes during the WTC cycle, but now it must beat Australia again, just for it to count! It just seems more of a marketing campaign than an actual proper cricketing conclusion. But that’s how it is. And, the Proteas are not here to complain, they are here to be champions.
From Legends to Learners: South Africa’s New Core
When the Proteas were in 2012, their squad was filled with legends: Smith, Amla, Kallis, AB, Steyn. Today, only Kagiso Rabada fits into that mold. This group isn’t really about having stars, it’s about synergy.
The roster has 15 players, 10 of them under 30. The majority of players came into the team at a similar time and enjoy bantering about how long they have been together. Their time together is inevitably creating a bond. As batting Coach Ashwell Prince states, “Everyone wants the guy next to him to do well,” which has taken them to the top despite only playing 12 Tests in this WTC (World Test Championship) cycle.
And this group is built on belief, not bravado.
No Panic, No Gimmicks—Just Trust
So, how will the team get ready for their biggest game in over 10 years? By keeping it nice and simple. We believe in ourselves, we believe in the process we have gone through. Prince said, No overthinking. No messing with anything in the last few days. Just doing the processes that got us here.
That laid-back mentality will be a big advantage to them. So much has been said about pressure in major moments that has gotten to South Africa in past tournaments, especially in white-ball cricket, but this team feels different. More grounded. More united. And hopefully, a little readier.
South Africa return to Lord’s thirteen years after being crowned Test champions—not to win a Test series, but to compete for the ultimate prize in Test cricket. The game has changed, the team has changed, but the ethos is unchanged.
Can this new, youthful team beat the odds and write their names into history, or will the WTC final’s winner-takes-all mentality prove too unforgiving? What we know for sure is that they earned the right to be here, and even if they win or lose, they will still be dreaming. What do you think? Is it right that, after two years of complete dominance, a single Test could define them? Is the WTC final the blockbuster Test cricket has been waiting for? Let us know in the comments.
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