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Hazlewood Back For WTC Final 2025; Changes In Australia's Playing XI Compared To 2023 Finale

Aashay Chopade

Australian squad in Test cricket (Source:@Off_Spinnerr/X.com)Australian squad in Test cricket (Source:@Off_Spinnerr/X.com)

The stage is set for the all-important World Test Championship Final 2025 as defending champions Australia will lock horns with South Africa. The Proteas would be playing their first-ever WTC final while Australia would like to make it two in two.

Pat Cummins, the skipper of Australia, has now announced the playing XI for the final and has gone with an interesting combination. The Aussies have decided to open with Marnus Labuschagne alongside Usman Khawaja to fit in all-rounders Cameron Green and Beau Webster in the XI. Thus, here are the changes in the playing XI for Australia from the 2023 WTC final to this one.

Hazlewood Returns Proves Unfortunate For Scott Boland

David Warner has retired from international cricket, and in his place, Marnus Labuschagne will open for Australia. However, Labuschagne was also part of the XI last time around and batted at number 3. Thus, it is Beau Webster who has replaced David Warner and he is likely to bat at number six.

On the bowling front, Josh Hazlewood would be playing the WTC Final 2025 in place of Scott Boland who got the opportunity in the 2023 finale against India. At that time, Josh Hazlewood was injured and Boland did brilliantly, but the former is completely fit now and has been preferred to tackle the South Africa batting line-up.

Comparison Of Australia's Playing XIs In WTC Finals

2023 WTC Final
2025 WTC Final
Usman KhawajaUsman Khawaja
David WarnerMarnus Labuschagne
Marnus LabuschagneCameron Green
Steve SmithSteve Smith
Travis HeadTravis Head
Cameron GreenBeau Webster
Alex CareyAlex Carey
Mitchell StarcMitchell Starc
Pat Cummins (C)Pat Cummins (C)
Nathan LyonNathan Lyon
Scott BolandJosh Hazlewood

Thus, Australia have made just two changes in the playing XI compared to the last WTC final they played against India at the Oval. They have a new opening pair, and six bowling options with Cameron Green and Beau Webster set to play the role of fourth seamer. Cameron Green is likely to bat at number 3 in place of Labuschagne while Steve Smith and Travis Head will be the pillars of the batting line-up.

The Kangaroos won the last final against India comprehensively by 209 runs and would be hoping to deliver another dominating performance against the Proteas.