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The Ex-South African cricketer believes that the Proteas can spring a surprise against Australia if they win the toss.
Kagiso Rabada will lead South Africa’s bowling attack in the WTC 2025 final against Australia. (Picture Credit: AFP)
South Africa legend Shaun Pollock believes that the Proteas would have it ‘tough’ and would be far from ‘favorites’ in the 2025 World Test Championship, WTC, Final against Australia in June. He said his countrymen’s best chance could be winning the toss and bowling first to utilize the help available at the Lord’s.
South Africa were the first to qualify for the WTC Final when they beat Pakistan in the first of two bilateral Tests at home at the end of last year. They won the following match in the New Year too, notching their seventh consecutive Test triumph in the cycle. Australia, on the other hand, finalised their qualification by beating India 3-1 in the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy at home.
“I think it’s going to be a tough one for South Africa,” Pollock told Hindustan Times. “I don’t think we are going in as favorites. Let’s be honest. If you look at the way Australia is playing their Test cricket, and you also look at the make-up of the South African side. But the funny thing about Lord’s in June is you win the toss and bowl first on the day because you can have a wonderful first innings and put the team under pressure.”
“So as I said, I don’t think they are going as favorites, but they have shown some unbelievable character to qualify, and you never know. We love cricket because there are no scripts involved. You can’t write a script for three months proper. You’ll have to see how things unfold in the day. They are in the final; they’ve got an opportunity and let’s see how they go.”
Pollock also commented on the jibes — mostly from Australian media — that South Africa haven’t beaten any ‘big’ teams to reach the final. The Proteas lost to New Zealand and drew a two-Test series against India but beat Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, in addition to Pakistan in their streak.
“There are a few people who say that they haven’t played Australia, they didn’t play England,” he said. “We’ve played India, but it probably should have been a three-match series. But at the end of the day, from a South African perspective, we weren’t at our best in terms of personnel, and we’ve found people. And you can only beat what’s in front of you.”
