New Delhi [India]: As South Africa prepares for their first-ever ICC World Test Championship (WTC) Final, former captain AB de Villiers emphasized the crucial roles of Temba Bavuma and Kyle Verreynne in the upcoming clash against Australia at Lord’s in June.
In a video posted by the International Cricket Council (ICC), de Villiers highlighted the importance of building a strong batting foundation at Lord’s, noting that scoring runs is key to giving bowlers freedom on England’s iconic pitch.
“I think an integral part of that batting lineup, which I feel will be incredibly important at Lord’s… it’s always important to get runs on the board there,” said de Villiers.
“Temba, as captain, must lead from the front. And someone like Kyle Verreynne, batting with the tail, can be vital.”
De Villiers underlined the value of middle- and lower-order contributions, particularly in conditions like Lord’s, where an extra 80-100 runs from the tail could be the difference between winning and losing.
“From past experiences at Lord’s, having an ‘in batter’ who can get the tail wagging usually helps win Test matches,” he added.
“Players like Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton, and Temba Bavuma must maintain form, while Verreynne must ‘direct traffic’ once the top order is dismissed.”
WTC 2025 Final: Australia vs South Africa at Lord’s
South Africa topped the WTC league stage with a points percentage of 69.44, securing eight wins and one draw out of 12 matches. The Proteas were dominant at home, winning series against Pakistan and Sri Lanka, and drawing against India. Their away form included series victories in West Indies and Bangladesh, with their only blemish being a loss in New Zealand, where several first-choice players were unavailable.
Australia, meanwhile, finished second with a points percentage of 67.54. After drawing the Ashes in England, they swept Pakistan 3-0 at home and beat New Zealand, Sri Lanka, and India. Despite a drawn series with West Indies, Australia secured their spot in the final and will now defend their WTC title against the Proteas.
Key Players to Watch:
- Temba Bavuma (Captain) – Top-order stability and leadership
- Kyle Verreynne – Lower-order resilience and game management
- Markram & Rickelton – Middle-order form crucial to set targets
- Australia’s full-strength attack – Will test South Africa’s batting depth
The WTC Final at Lord’s in June promises to be a high-stakes showdown between two dominant sides, with batting depth and tail-end contributions likely to prove decisive.