Australia Faces Early Woes as WTC Final Begins with High Drama at Lord’s
We’re live from Lord’s for the highly anticipated World Test Championship final, and what a dramatic start it has been. Australia, aiming to become the first team to win two WTC titles, has taken on South Africa in overcast conditions in London — and already, day one is delivering intense moments.
The big news heading into this final was Marnus Labuschagne stepping into unfamiliar territory as an opener. With David Warner retired and the Aussie selectors still searching for a stable partner for Usman Khawaja, Labuschagne — typically a number three — was thrust into the top spot. And just as the dust began to settle on that decision, we saw early drama with the loss of Khawaja and Cameron Green in quick succession.
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Khawaja fell for a duck, a classic dismissal where he was caught on the crease and nicked off to the slips, continuing a worrying trend of instability at the top of the order. Then came Green — returning from injury and much-anticipated at number three — only to last four balls before edging one to the slips. Kagiso Rabada, looking sharp and menacing, was the architect of both dismissals in one over, immediately putting Australia on the back foot.
Despite the chaos, Steve Smith and Labuschagne tried to steady the innings. Smith, who walked in earlier than expected, looked composed, dispatching a couple of wide deliveries with his trademark elegance. Labuschagne, meanwhile, appeared cautious but focused, battling through some probing spells from Lungi Ngidi and Wiaan Mulder. There were nervy moments — a few inside edges, balls whistling past the bat, and one very close call where an edge dropped just short of second slip — but the pair hung in.
South Africa, on the other hand, made a bold call with their pace attack. Ngidi replaced Paterson, and Rabada returned after a brief suspension, instantly making an impact. The Dukes ball, moving generously under the Lord’s cloud cover, has turned this into a bowler’s session, no doubt. And with floodlights already on, there’s no doubt the Proteas are looking to capitalize on every ounce of swing available early on.
The Australian lineup, which includes a returning Josh Hazlewood and middle-order regulars like Travis Head and Beau Webster, looks balanced on paper. But the decision to shuffle the order and accommodate Green as a specialist batter is clearly under pressure just a few overs in. Smith and Labuschagne now carry the heavy burden of reconstructing the innings before things spiral further.
It’s early days in this five-day contest, but South Africa has drawn first blood — and drawn it fast. With wickets falling, conditions tricky, and pressure mounting, this final is already living up to its billing. One thing’s for sure: if day one is any indication, we’re in for a thriller at Lord’s.
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