No place for Scott Boland as Australia announce playing XI for ICC WTC 2023-25 final against South Africa
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Pat Cummins will lead Australia in ICC WTC 2023-25 final against South Africa.
Australia and South Africa will collide in the final of ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25 final at the Lord’s. The epic test clash will begin on Wednesday, June 11 and witness the ultimate battle for the ICC test mace.
While Australia Cricket Team aim to defend their title, South Africa will eye winning an ICC trophy after years. On Tuesday, June 10, Australia test captain Pat Cummins announced the Aussies’ playing XI for the summit clash during a press conference in London.
Pacer Scott Boland, who gave a brilliant performance during the Border Gavakar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25 against India, has been dropped from the playing XI. Instead, Josh Hazlewood will join the likes of Mitchell Starc and Cummins in the pace department.
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Hazlewood returns to tests after a gap of five months with his previous outing in December 2024 against India in the BGT 2024-25, where he was ruled out midway during the series due to an injury. Moreover, the defending champions have moved Marnus Labuschagne up the order as an opener. He will open the batting with Usman Khawaja in the ICC WTC 2023-25 final. With this move, Sam Konstas has been benched for the game.
Beau Webster has retained his spot in the playing XI and will help the bowling department with his dual abilities of off-spin and medium pace. Cameron Green returned to the test team following his recovery from back surgery. The all-rounder last represented the national team back in September 2024 and played a test match in March last year.
Australia XI for ICC WTC 2023-25 final: Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Cameron Green, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Beau Webster, Alex Carey (WK), Pat Cummins (C), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood.
Steve Smith and Travis Head will have a huge responsibility in the middle-order as the duo set the winning momentum in the last edition’s final in 2023 with their centuries. Meanwhile, South Africa also revealed their playing XI for the match earlier in the day. Temba Bavuma is the skipper of South Africa in the encounter.
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