Kagiso Rabada To Castle Steve Smith? Player Battles To Watch Out In SA vs AUS WTC25 Final

Kagiso Rabada vs Steve Smith [Source: @Iqra87685226/x.com]

It doesn’t get bigger than this as Australia takes on South Africa at Lord’s for the World Test Championship 2025 crown starting Wednesday, June 11. Australia, led by Pat Cummins, will be looking to hold onto their WTC title while South Africa, hungry and hurting from decades without an ICC trophy, will be itching to finally break that curse under the calm leadership of Temba Bavuma.

While the teams are packed with firepower across the board, it will come down to key head-to-heads, the pressure-cookers, the one-on-ones, the battles that could swing the game one way or the other.

Here are 5 mouthwatering player battles from the SA vs AUS WTC final that could shape the outcome of the game.

1. Temba Bavuma vs Josh Hazlewood

• Proteas skipper, Temba Bavuma has faced Hazlewood across three series and it has been a mixed bag.
• He has notched up 46 runs off 118 balls with two dismissals, averaging just 23.0. Hazlewood’s nagging line outside off has tied up Bavuma time and again, forcing the batter to play out maidens or take risks.
• But this is no ordinary contest now. If Bavuma can absorb that early heat and keep Hazlewood at bay, South Africa could gain a massive upper hand at the top.

2. Aiden Markram vs Pat Cummins

• If Bavuma has issues with Hazlewood, then Aiden Markram’s history with Pat Cummins is even spicier. In just 123 balls, Cummins has removed Markram four times, conceding only 90 runs. That’s an average of 22.5, which paints a clear picture: Cummins has his number.
• The Aussie skipper knows exactly how to angle the ball in from just short of a length, and Markram’s tendency to flirt with balls outside off has hurt him.
• But if Markram can turn the tide here, get through Cummins early, it could give the Proteas middle order room to breathe and counter-attack.

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3. Steve Smith vs Kagiso Rabada

• Now this is box-office stuff. Steve Smith is Australia's rock and Kagiso Rabada is South Africa’s enforcer. The two have crossed swords often with Smith scoring 128 off 262 balls, but Rabada dismissing him four times, bringing his average in this battle to just 32.0.
• Smith’s unorthodox technique vs Rabada’s explosive pace and bounce is the kind of theatre that Test cricket lives for.
• If Rabada breaks through early, it dents Australia’s core. If Smith survives and cashes in, South Africa could be staring at a huge total on the board. This battle is pure gold.

4. Marnus Labuschagne vs Marco Jansen

• Marnus Labuschagne has been Mr. Reliable for Australia, but Marco Jansen has kept him on a leash. In their brief encounters so far, Jansen has given away only 19 runs in 58 balls, dismissing Marnus once. That’s a strike rate of 32.8 and an average of 19.0.
• Jansen, with his height and awkward angle from left-arm over, creates that uncomfortable channel around off-stump which Marnus hasn’t quite figured out yet.
• If Jansen can keep him tied down again, it could dry up the runs and force Marnus into a mistake, something South Africa will count on to keep the Aussies from running away with it.

5. Usman Khawaja vs Kagiso Rabada

• In five dismissals, Kagiso Rabada has had Khawaja’s number, especially since 2018. Khawaja has managed 154 runs in 319 balls at a modest average of 30.8.
• Rabada’s ability to zip it through or angle it away catches Khawaja on the crease and if he gets going early, Australia could find themselves in early trouble.
• But if Khawaja survives and sets the tone, that top-order base will be hard to shake.

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