The World Test Championship 2025 (WTC 2025) Final is set to take place at Lord’s in England from June 11 to 15, where defending champions Australia will take on South Africa. Ahead of the much-anticipated clash, former Australian skipper Ricky Ponting shared his views on the team selection and revealed his preferred playing XI during the latest episode of the ICC Review show.
Ponting made a bold call regarding Australia’s opening pair. He said: “I have just got a bit of a feeling that Marnus Labuschagne might be pushed up the order to open the batting with Khawaja. I think Green will bat at three and Steve Smith will be at four. Then it’s Travis Head five, Beau Webster six, Carey at seven, Cummins eight, Starc nine and Lyon 10.”
He also addressed the long-standing debate over the final bowling spot in the Australian Test XI. “And the one that everyone talks about the last couple of years is the whole Hazlewood (versus) Boland one. It’s a really tough selection every time because every time Boland plays, he just does so well. But unfortunately, if Hazlewood is fit, I think Hazlewood comes straight back into the team. I actually think that they will go with Labuschagne.”
“Labuschagne has been through this cycle with the team” – Ricky Ponting
Ponting acknowledged that his prediction is also based on continuity and trust in the core group that has been part of Australia’s WTC journey. “Looking back to the last World Test Championship Final there was some talk about David Warner and whether he should hold his spot going into that. And there was a bit of talk around the team about wanting to get through that period or that phase, if you like, with the same group of players and give them the chance to be able to play off in that one-off final.”
He further explained his reasoning behind Labuschagne’s inclusion, even if not in his usual No.3 position: “Labuschagne has been through this cycle with the team, albeit batting at No.3, and I think they will want to get through the cycle with the same players. So I think Labuschagne will get the nod. Whether I agree with it or not, it’s a different thing… all will be revealed in the next couple of weeks,” Ponting concluded.
Ricky Ponting’s predicted Australia XI for WTC 2025 Final: Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Cameron Green, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Beau Webster, Alex Carey (wk), Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, and Josh Hazlewood.
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