Australian bowlers lead comeback after batters fail on Day 1

Shilpa Rajan June 19, 2025

Australian team made a strong start in the ICC World Test Championship Final 2025 at Lord’s. They are facing South Africa in this all-important clash. Australia had won the inaugural edition of this championship. Now in its third edition, the tournament sees the two best red-ball teams of the year battle it out for the title.

Temba Bavuma won the toss for the Proteas and decided to bowl in overcast conditions. Both teams named their strongest possible line-ups. Cameron Green returned to the Aussie line-up after a long absence from injury.

Batters struggle, bowlers prevail

It was going to be a tough test for the batters. South African bowlers made full use of the conditions. Kagiso Rabada was steaming in from one end, and Marco Jansen took the ball from the other end. Rabada took 19 balls to get his first strike. Usman Khawaja went to the pavilion without troubling the score. Cameron Green followed his teammate in the same over. Rabada was all over the batters.

Marco Jansen got into the wickets by dismissing Marnus Labuschagne. The left-hander also got the dangerous Travis Head. Australia were 67 for four in the first session of play.

Smith & Webster steady the innings

Australia needed someone to step up and score runs. It wasn’t an easy track, but two players batted patiently. Steve Smith was making the bowlers work, and soon Beau Webster joined him in the middle. These two added 79 runs for the fifth wicket. Smith was disappointed after Markram got him out. He worked hard to get rid of the fast bowlers, but Markram got the main man.

Rabada steals the show

Alex Carey joined Webster in the middle. These two added a few runs before Maharaj took out the wicketkeeper batsman. Kagiso Rabada came back with more intent. He took three late wickets and ended the innings with five for 51. Rabada also moved to fourth spot in the all-time leading test wicket taker for South Africa. Jansen took three wickets as Australia ended their innings on 212. Webster was the highest scorer with 72 runs on the board.

Australian trio end Day 1 on a high

Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and Pat Cummins are one of the most lethal trios in world cricket. These three have won a lot of matches for the Aussies. The men in yellow needed their three senior bowlers to step up, and they were on their mark from ball 1.

Starc has troubled the batters with some late in-swing. He got Markram’s wicket in the very first over of the innings. Ryan Rickelton was Starc’s second wicket. He was caught by Khawaja at slips. Wiaan Mulder tried to take off the pressure, but Aussie bowlers held their line. He was bowled by Pat Cummins. Josh Hazelwood also got into the wickets by taking out Tristan Stubbs. South Africa ended the day in deep trouble as they managed only 43 runs on the board and lost four crucial wickets. Temba Bavuma and David Bedingham have a huge task on hand in the first session of Day 2.