Is South Africa the Deserving Finalist of the World Test Championship?
For the 2023–2025 World Test Championship Final, South Africa will face Australia at Lord’s from June 11 to 15. After playing 12 Tests and finishing at the top of the table, South Africa secured their spot in the Final. Their consistent performances throughout the cycle earned them the highest points percentage, edging out other contenders.
With the start of the 2023–2025 World Test Championship cycle, there were talks among fans who expected to see either England, India, Australia, or New Zealand in the Finals, as they are often considered the top sides in the Test format. However, the team that unexpectedly made it to the WTC Final is South Africa, which played a total of 12 Test matches in this cycle and finished at the top of the points table with 8 wins, 3 losses, and 1 draw. This secured a Points Percentage (PCT) of 97. 69.44.
| Rank | Team | Matches (M) | Wins (W) | Losses (L) | Ties (T) | Draws (D) | No Result (N/R) | Points (PT) | PCT (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Africa | 12 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 100 | 69.44 |
| 2 | Australia | 19 | 13 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 154 | 67.54 |
| 3 | India | 19 | 9 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 114 | 50.00 |
| 4 | New Zealand | 14 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 81 | 48.21 |
| 5 | England | 22 | 11 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 114 | 43.18 |
| 6 | Sri Lanka | 13 | 5 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 60 | 38.46 |
| 7 | Bangladesh | 12 | 4 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 45 | 31.25 |
| 8 | West Indies | 13 | 3 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 44 | 28.21 |
| 9 | Pakistan | 14 | 5 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 47 | 27.98 |
South Africa’s campaign didn’t begin dominantly. They started at home against India, winning big in Centurion but then suffering a historic low-scoring defeat in Cape Town, resulting in a 1-1 draw. Things got worse during their away tour to New Zealand, where they fielded a second-string squad due to SA20 commitments. They lost both matches convincingly, going down 0-2. With just one win in their first five matches, South Africa’s chances looked slim. But then came a stunning turnaround. They drew the first Test against the West Indies, then won the second in Guyana, sparking a remarkable run of seven straight wins.
| Opponent | Venue | Tests Played | Series Result | Key Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| India | Home | 2 | Drawn 1-1 | Dominant win at Centurion; historic low total at Cape Town in loss |
| New Zealand | Away | 2 | Lost 0-2 | Understrength squad; heavy defeats; Ravindra & Williamson dominant |
| West Indies | Away | 2 | Won 1-0 | Draw in Port of Spain, tense win in Guyana |
| Bangladesh | Away | 2 | Won 2-0 | Huge win in Chattogram; first subcontinent series win since 2014 |
| Sri Lanka | Home | 2 | Won 2-0 | Jansen 7/13 in Durban; Maharaj & Paterson starred in Gqeberha |
| Pakistan | Home | 2 | Won 2-0 | Epic chase in Centurion; batting masterclass in Cape Town |
| TOTAL | — | 12 | Won 8, Lost 3, Draw 1 | Qualified for WTC Final with one Test to spare after 7 straight wins |
They went on to whitewash Bangladesh 2-0 in their backyard, a rare achievement and their first series win in Asia since 2014. Key performances came from Kyle Verreynne, Wiaan Mulder, Rabada, and Maharaj. Next came a home series against Sri Lanka, where South Africa were dominant. Marco Jansen tore through the visitors with 7 for 13 in Durban, while Paterson and Maharaj led the charge in Gqeberha, sealing another 2-0 win. By the time Pakistan arrived for a two-Test series, South Africa only needed one win to qualify for the Final. In Centurion, they pulled off a thrilling 2-wicket victory, thanks to late heroics from Rabada and Jansen.
South Africa vs India — Series Tied 1-1
The start of the 2023-2025 World Test Championship saw South Africa host India for a thrilling two-Test series, ending in a 1-1 draw. In the first Test at Centurion, South Africa dominated, winning by an innings and 32 runs. Dean Elgar’s masterful 185, supported by David Bedingham’s 56 on debut and Marco Jansen’s 84, powered South Africa to a 163-run lead. Kagiso Rabada’s fiery 5-wicket haul and debutant Nandre Burger’s pace dismantled India, despite KL Rahul’s century.
India collapsed to 131 in their second innings, with only Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill reaching double figures. The second Test at Cape Town, the shortest in Test history, saw South Africa bowled out for a dismal 55, their lowest in a century, as Mohammed Siraj claimed 6/15. India managed 153, led by Kohli’s 46, but Aiden Markram’s gutsy 106 set a target of 79. Jasprit Bumrah’s 6/61 kept South Africa in check, and India chased the runs in 12 overs.
South Africa vs New Zealand — Lost 2-0
With the end of the India series, the South Africa team faced a tough challenge touring New Zealand in February 2024, losing both Tests in a 2-0 series defeat. Hampered by the SA20 T20 league, South Africa fielded a weakened squad with seven uncapped players in the first Test at Mount Maunganui, six debuting. New Zealand capitalized, piling on 511, led by Kane Williamson’s century and Rachin Ravindra’s career-best 240. South Africa crumbled to 162 and, chasing 529, managed only 247, losing by 281 runs.
Williamson’s second-innings ton sealed the rout. The second Test in Hamilton showed more fight. South Africa took a 31-run first-innings lead, thanks to Dane Piedt’s 5/89 and David Bedingham’s maiden Test hundred. Setting New Zealand 267 to win, they had moments of hope, but Williamson’s unbeaten 133 guided New Zealand to a seven-wicket victory, their first series win over South Africa. Piedt’s eight wickets in the match stood out, but the tour was a reality check.
South Africa vs West Indies — Won 1-0
After losing the away series against New Zealand, South Africa regrouped for a crucial two-Test tour in the West Indies in August 2024, needing wins to keep their WTC Final hopes alive. The first Test in Port of Spain ended in a draw. Temba Bavuma’s 86 helped South Africa to a 124-run first-innings lead, with Kagiso Rabada and Keshav Maharaj taking seven wickets combined. Declaring at 173/3, they set the West Indies 298 to chase. Despite reducing them to 64/3, Alick Athanaze’s 92 and rain frustrated South Africa, denying victory.
In the second Test at Guyana, South Africa stumbled to 160, with Shamar Joseph’s 5/33 shining for West Indies. But their bowlers fought back, dismissing West Indies for 144. Aiden Markram’s 51 and Kyle Verreynne’s 59 lifted South Africa to 246, setting a 263-run target. West Indies slumped to 104/6, but a 77-run stand between Gudakesh Motie and Joshua da Silva raised hopes. Maharaj’s heroics, taking three of the last four wickets, sealed a tense 40-run win.
South Africa vs Bangladesh — Won 2-0
With the win against West Indies, another away tour awaited South Africa in Bangladesh in October 2024, where they clinched a 2-0 Test series sweep, their first subcontinent series victory since 2014. In the first Test at Mirpur, South Africa’s spinners, including Dane Piedt, bowled Bangladesh out for 106. Despite slipping to 99/5, Kyle Verreynne’s second Test century and Wiaan Mulder’s grit lifted South Africa to 308. Kagiso Rabada’s 6/46 rattled Bangladesh, but Mehidy Hasan Miraz’s 97 and Jaker Ali’s 58 pushed them to 307, setting 106 to win.
South Africa chased it with seven wickets in hand, though Temba Bavuma missed out due to an elbow injury, with Aiden Markram leading. The second Test in Chattogram was a rout. Tony de Zorzi, Tristan Stubbs, and Mulder smashed their maiden Test tons, powering South Africa to 575/6 declared. Rabada’s 5-wicket haul skittled Bangladesh for 159, and after enforcing the follow-on, Keshav Maharaj’s 5/59 wrapped up their second innings. South Africa won by an innings and 273 runs in three days, a turning point that fueled their belief in reaching the WTC Final.
South Africa vs Sri Lanka — Won 2-0
With all the away series done, South Africa kicked off their home summer against Sri Lanka in November-December 2024, sweeping the two-Test series 2-0 to edge closer to the WTC Final. In the first Test at Durban, South Africa struggled to 191, with Temba Bavuma’s 70 leading the way. But Marco Jansen’s career-best 7/13 obliterated Sri Lanka for a record-low 42. Tristan Stubbs’ century and Bavuma’s third ton powered South Africa to set a 516-run target.
Despite injuries to Gerald Coetzee and Wiaan Mulder, Sri Lanka fell for 282, handing South Africa a 233-run win. In the second Test at Gqeberha, Ryan Rickelton’s debut century (100), Bavuma’s 78, and Kyle Verreynne’s 105 pushed South Africa to 358. Sri Lanka fought back with Pathum Nissanka’s 89 but trailed by 30 runs, thanks to Dane Paterson’s gritty bowling. South Africa’s second innings of 317, with another Bavuma fifty, set a 348-run chase. Sri Lanka reached 205/5, but Keshav Maharaj’s 5/76 clinched a 109-run victory.
South Africa vs Pakistan
The last series before the WTC Final saw South Africa host Pakistan in December 2023-January 2024, sealing a 2-0 sweep to confirm their spot at Lord’s. In the first Test at Centurion, South Africa chased a tricky 148, crumbling to 99/8 as Mohammad Abbas claimed 6 wickets. But Kagiso Rabada’s 31 off 26 and Marco Jansen’s grit forged a 51-run ninth-wicket stand for a thrilling two-wicket win. Dane Paterson’s 5/61 and Jansen’s 6/52 had earlier restricted Pakistan to 211 and 237, while Aiden Markram’s 89 and debutant Corbin Bosch’s unbeaten 81 secured a 90-run lead.
In the second Test at Cape Town, South Africa’s batsmen shone. Ryan Rickelton’s double-century, the first by a South African opener since 2013, Temba Bavuma’s fourth ton, and Kyle Verreynne’s home century powered a massive first innings. Pakistan fell for 77 and 151, with 19-year-old debutant Kwena Maphaka impressing. South Africa chased 58 in a breeze, completing a seven-Test win streak, their second-longest ever.
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