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LONDON: Cricket South Africa (CSA) on Tuesday unveiled the Playing XI for the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2025 final against Australia, set to begin on June 11 here at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground.
This marks the maiden appearance for South Africa in a WTC Final, after topping the points table with an impressive 69.44% points percentage, a campaign that saw them win 8 out of 12 Tests.
Temba Bavuma will captain the team in this historic showdown. Meanwhile, fast bowler Lungi Ngidi is set to return to red-ball cricket after recovering from a groin injury that kept him out during the home season.
Keshav Maharaj is the only specialist spinner in South Africa’s playing XI, supported by a pace trio of Kagiso Rabada, Marco Jansen, and Lungi Ngidi.
Notably, South Africa’s team management has decided to promote all-rounder Wiaan Mulder to the No. 3 position in the batting order.
“Mulder is quite young in that position. But I think having played with Mulder, having seen him and the way he has grown in the last two years within the red-ball format,” said Bavuma.
“It’s about giving him a lot more confidence, backing him, and just allowing him to do what he does best.
“He has an opportunity in a pressure situation, but I think he can take comfort from the fact that the guys are backing him. We just want him to play his game.”
South Africa playing XI: Temba Bavuma (c), Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton, Wiaan Mulder, Tristan Stubbs, David Bedingham, Kyle Verrynne, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi.
READ: Steve Smith wary of South Africa pace attack in WTC final
