Pat Cummins, the captain of the Australian cricket team, has offered a candid assessment of their defeat to South Africa in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) Final at Lord's on June 14, 2025. Despite entering the match as reigning champions, Australia suffered a five-wicket loss, a result Cummins attributes to missed opportunities and South Africa's superior performance, particularly in the crucial fourth innings.
Cummins acknowledged South Africa's dominance, stating that they "didn't give us a chance" during their chase of 282 runs. He credited Aiden Markram and Temba Bavuma for their outstanding partnership, which effectively shut Australia out of the game. Markram's impressive century (136) and Bavuma's resilient half-century (66), achieved despite a hamstring issue, were instrumental in guiding South Africa to victory. Cummins admitted that Australia "didn't bat out the opposition after a decent first-innings lead," which allowed South Africa to stay in the contest and ultimately seize the win.
Reflecting on the match conditions at Lord's, Cummins noted the challenging nature of the pitch, where 28 wickets fell in the first two days. He described it as a "great advertisement" for Test cricket, highlighting the exceptional bowling performances from both teams. While he acknowledged the difficulty of batting in such conditions, he also pointed out that South Africa adapted better, particularly in their successful fourth-innings chase.
Despite the defeat, Cummins achieved a personal milestone during the match, reaching 300 Test wickets. He expressed pride in this achievement, calling it "pretty cool" and a "sign of durability and longevity." He also thanked his support team, acknowledging their role in helping him reach this landmark.
Looking ahead, Cummins hinted at a potential reshuffling of the Australian batting order. He admitted to concerns about the top-order's performance, particularly the lack of substantial contributions from Marnus Labuschagne, Usman Khawaja, and Cameron Green in the final. He suggested that the new WTC cycle could be an opportunity to reassess the team's composition and consider bringing in fresh faces. Cummins specifically mentioned players like Sam Konstas, Scott Boland, and Josh Inglis, who are on the fringes of selection, as potential options for the upcoming Test series.
Cummins also reflected on the broader context of the WTC, noting that it is a "fantastic spectacle" culminating in a "one-game shootout" after two years of building towards the final. While he expressed a preference for The Oval, where Australia defeated India in the 2023 final, he acknowledged the unique challenge and excitement of the WTC format.
In the wake of the loss, Cummins emphasized the need to learn from the experience and focus on the upcoming challenges, including the West Indies tour and the Ashes series. He acknowledged that Australia had the opportunity to bat South Africa out of the game after gaining a first-innings lead but failed to capitalize. This failure, combined with South Africa's strong performance in the fourth innings, ultimately led to Australia's defeat.
