South Africa Announces Playing XI for WTC Final Against AUS

South Africa’s captain, Temba Bavuma, has named the playing XI for the World Test Championship (WTC) final against Australia, starting June 11 at the historic Lord’s Cricket Ground in England. This will be South Africa’s first-ever appearance in the WTC final. Ryan Rickelton, their top scorer in this WTC cycle, will lead the batting, with support from Bavuma, Aiden Markram, and Tristan Stubbs. Wiaan Mulder keeps his spot at No. 3 after batting there in their last Test against Pakistan.

"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. It's about giving him a lot more confidence, keep 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." Bavuma said.

Keshav Maharaj is the only specialist spinner in the side, supported by a pace attack featuring Kagiso Rabada, Marco Jansen, and Lungi Ngidi. Though Dane Paterson impressed in South Africa’s recent Test series against Pakistan, Bavuma explained why they went with Ngidi instead.

"Probably one of the tougher decisions that has been made. We see what Dane Paterson did for us to the end of last season. But it was more from a tactical point of view. Probably a little bit more pace from Lungi, guess he's a bit taller as well. Lungi also has a better record, not taking away anything from Patto. He (Ngidi) has the experience, he's played here before, not that Patto hasn't. But I think he (Ngidi) will complement that bowling attack a little more. We have a guy like Mulder, who can give us something similar like Patto. It was probably one of the difficult decision we had to make." Bavuma added.

South Africa Playing XI for WTC Final Against AUS

Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton, Wiaan Mulder, Temba Bavuma (c), Tristan Stubbs, David Bedingham, Kyle Verreynne (wk), Marco Jansen, Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi.

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