WTC final showdown: Steve Smith vs Kagiso Rabada to steal the spotlight at Lord’s

Dubai: The stage is set for one of the biggest Tests in cricket’s modern era as Australia and South Africa gear up for the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final at Lord’s, starting on Wednesday. While the contest promises excitement across the board, much of the spotlight will be on Steve Smith’s gripping duel with South Africa’s pace spearhead Kagiso Rabada, and the role veteran spinner Nathan Lyon could play on the famously seamer-friendly Lord’s pitch.

Steve Smith, one of the game’s modern greats, enters the final with a chance to cement his place among the all-time great century-makers. The 36-year-old has notched 36 Test hundreds, equal to England’s Joe Root and trailing only a few legends such as Kumar Sangakkara. His fine century against India in last year’s WTC final at The Oval showed his ability to rise to the occasion on cricket’s biggest stages.

Smith’s record against South Africa is solid: over 12 Tests between 2014 and 2023, he has accumulated 854 runs at an average just under 45, including two centuries and four fifties. His best score against the Proteas came in his last encounter — a vital 104 in the drawn Sydney Test of 2023.

But standing in his way is Kagiso Rabada, the fearsome South African fast bowler ranked second among the ICC’s Test pace bowlers. Rabada’s lethal pace, bounce, and skill on seaming tracks make him a genuine threat to Smith and Australia’s batting line-up.

Legendary England pacer James Anderson is eagerly anticipating the Smith-Rabada showdown at Lord’s. “The main one for me will be Rabada against Steve Smith, and I think that could be a really good, interesting battle,” Anderson said ahead of the match.

“Steve Smith is one of the best batters in the world, and Kagiso Rabada is one of my favourite bowlers to watch. He’s got so many attributes that just make me want to tune into the TV and watch him. He’s a fantastic player, so I’m really looking forward to that battle.”

Anderson, who has taken 123 wickets at Lord’s, also offered seam bowling advice for the conditions: “Here it’s more than three-quarters up the stump — you need to pitch it fuller to make the ball move and trouble the batters.”

The final will also see South Africa’s Lungi Ngidi and Marco Jansen support Rabada, while Australia are expected to field their pace trio of captain Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Josh Hazlewood, all ranked among the world’s best.

Though Lord’s is traditionally known for its seaming conditions favouring fast bowlers, dry weather and pitch reports suggest spin could play a bigger role than usual in this WTC final.

Australian star Smith himself has flagged the importance of spin: “Yeah, I think spin will play a big part, particularly as the game wears on. It’s dry — the reports say the pitch is pretty dry to start the season here.”

Nathan Lyon, the veteran Aussie off-spinner with 553 Test wickets, was instrumental in Australia’s triumph over India in the 2023 WTC final. His four-wicket haul in the second innings at The Oval cleaned up India’s tail and helped seal the championship.

Lyon also boasts an impressive record against South Africa, having taken 56 wickets in 14 Tests. If the pitch conditions hold, expect Lyon to work his magic once again, exploiting any rough patches and variable bounce to trouble the Proteas’ batsmen.

For Australia, Lyon represents a vital piece of the puzzle to complement their pace attack and provide crucial breakthroughs on what could be a turning pitch.

Australia have confirmed a few key decisions for the final at Lord’s.

Marnus Labuschagne will open alongside Usman Khawaja, pushed up the order in a bid to fill the void left by retired opener David Warner. Labuschagne’s recent form has been patchy, averaging just 28.33 in the current WTC cycle, but his experience and technique make him a dependable choice. Travis Head, who opened in Sri Lanka recently, will move down to No 5.

The bowling attack has also been finalised, with Josh Hazlewood returning fit after injury and reclaiming his spot ahead of Scott Boland, who starred in the 2023 final against India.

Australia’s middle order features Cameron Green at No 3, returning after six months out with a lower spine injury, and Beau Webster making his debut at No 6.

South Africa have made tactical decisions of their own. In the pace department, Lungi Ngidi’s experience edged out Dane Paterson, despite Paterson’s recent five-wicket hauls and County Championship form. Ngidi’s height (1.93m vs Paterson’s 1.75m) and better overall record swayed the selectors.

Wiaan Mulder was preferred at No 3 in the batting order ahead of Tony de Zorzi, to bolster the team’s medium pace options and provide all-round balance.

Captain Temba Bavuma explained the selections: “It was probably one of the tougher decisions. But from a tactical point of view, we wanted a bit more pace and height. Ngidi complements our bowling attack well.”

The 2025 WTC final at Lord’s will showcase two of the finest red-ball teams in the world fighting for cricket’s ultimate prize. Australia, the defending champions under Pat Cummins, seek to retain their title after beating India in last year’s final.

South Africa, led by Bavuma, aim to end a 20-plus year wait for an ICC trophy and claim their first WTC crown.

With a seaming track expected early on and the pitch likely to deteriorate and assist spin, this battle promises enthralling duels: Smith’s masterclass against Rabada’s pace; Lyon’s craft against South Africa’s batsmen; and strategic team selections that could tip the balance.

The final runs from June 11 to 15 at Lord’s, with a reserve day on June 16. Cricket fans worldwide will be glued to what promises to be the “Ultimate Test.”