Cricket
Pat Cummins Reveals Australia’s Strategy to Defend WTC Title Against South Africa
As Australia gears up for the World Test Championship Final at Lord’s, captain Pat Cummins outlines his plans to counter South Africa’s challenge and secure back-to-back titles.
Australia’s Test captain, Pat Cummins, is leading his team into the 2025 World Test Championship (WTC) Final with a clear vision: to defend their title against a formidable South African side at Lord’s starting June 11.
Cummins has confirmed that veteran batter Steve Smith will retain his pivotal No. 4 position in the batting lineup. “I can confirm that Smudge will be batting at four,” Cummins stated, emphasizing Smith’s consistency and experience in that role. Smith has amassed 10,271 runs at an average of 56.7 from 206 innings at this position, including 36 centuries and 41 fifties.
Reflecting on the journey to the final, Cummins highlighted the team’s resilience across diverse conditions. “It’s a tournament that every other Test-playing nation is vying for, so it just signifies a pretty good couple of years,” he remarked. Australia’s path included challenging tours, such as victories in Sri Lanka and New Zealand, showcasing their adaptability and strength.
Acknowledging the threat posed by South Africa, Cummins noted, “They always seem to compete in every tournament. They’ve got a lot of experience… They have really good fast bowlers, and they always seem to have not just one or two main guys but four to six they can call upon.”
Cummins also addressed his own fitness, having returned to training after an ankle injury sustained during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. “The ankle is all going strong… It’s feeling as strong as it has for a fair while,” he assured, indicating his readiness for the final.
With a full-strength squad, including the returns of Josh Hazlewood and Cameron Green, Australia is poised to defend their WTC title. The team aims to become the first to win consecutive WTC finals, a testament to their dominance in the Test arena.