World Test Championship cricket comes to Lord’s in St John’s Wood, London, this week. Australia face the challenge of old rivals South Africa from Wednesday morning, with the coin toss expected at 10:30 GMT.
With two huge names from the Test Match cricket playing at a world-famous venue packed with fans of both nations and a healthy sprinkling of interested neutrals, a thrilling few days await. If you can’t make it to Lord’s Cricket Ground, you can follow every swing, run, and catch live on Sky Sports Cricket.
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Which team will draw first blood in the World Test Championship final? You can make predictions and place bets at Gamblr now. New customers receive a welcome bonus free bet in plenty of time for the match, with a wide range of markets and generous odds available on your laptop and mobile.
Australia vs South Africa betting odds
Australia to win @ 1.42
Draw @ 10.0
The odds above come from the match betting available at Gamblr. Members can browse several pre-match and live betting markets on Australia vs South Africa.
It’s worth noting that these teams played out a draw in their most recent clash. If you’d rather remove the risk of a draw, you can play the winner, including a super over betting market, and the odds are below.
Australia to win @ 1.36
South Africa to win @ 3.18
Another popular market, especially in matches with a strong favourite, is the top batsman. Here are the leading contenders and odds.
Steve Smith (Australia) @ 3.9
Travis Head (Australia) @ 4.8
Tristan Stubbs (South Africa) @ 5.5
Ryan Rickelton (South Africa) @ 5.5
Australia back to their best
Followers of international cricket know it’s been a rollercoaster few years for Australia. They suffered many exciting highs and more than a few painful lows, including some high-profile off-field feuds. But Australian cricket regrouped and bounced back. They arrive in excellent form and are again playing the kind of cricket you’d expect from a sporting superpower.
Australia eased past India in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, securing a 3-1 result. They then took aim at Sri Lanka, banking a dominant win away from home. The game against South Africa comes at the perfect time for Pat Cummins’ team, and fans hope the players deliver on the big stage.
South Africa target an upset
South Africa enters this showdown with Australia knowing they are the underdogs, written off by pundits, many fans, and the latest betting odds. But they are here on merit and prepare with confidence. South Africa is no stranger to silencing its critics and letting its cricket do the talking. Will we see more of the same this week?
The Proteas are in great form, built off an exciting bowling attack. Kagiso Rabada and Keshav Maharaj will be the driving force behind any success enjoyed here. The head-to-head stats show Temba Bavuma’s men last beat Australia in 2018 when roaring to a memorable win by almost 500 runs in Johannesburg. A repeat performance is unlikely, but followers would accept a win of any description.
Head-to-head
Let’s take a closer look at recent meetings involving the nations.
From over 100 Test Matches played between these nations, Australia has 101 wins against the 26 for South Africa, with 21 games ending in a draw. We focus on the previous six leading up to this final.
Draw – Sydney – January 2023
Australia win – Melbourne – December 2022
South Africa win – Johannesburg – April 2018
South Africa win – Cape Town – March 2018
South Africa win – Port Elizabeth – March 2018
The results above tell the story of an Australian side that came roaring back from a miserable run against South Africa. The Proteas dominated in 2018, encountering little resistance along the way.
More than four years after a 492-run drubbing in Johannesburg, Australia won by six wickets in Brisbane, a 1st Test that was to prove a turning point. Having edged their opponents in the opener, Australia flexed to a win by 182 runs and an innings in the 2nd Test in Melbourne.
Australia vs South Africa prediction
Both nations have enjoyed a share of success in recent times, but which will secure the bragging rights in the ICC World Test Championship final in England? Traders can’t see past a strong victory for Australia, and the numbers make it difficult to argue.
Australia’s recent results are impressive, but their performances have been even better. They’re a team that’s pulling in the same direction again, and it shows in the scorelines. Winning this title would prove that Australian cricket is finally back on top and has a bright future.
They enter on the back of two hard-fought wins in Sri Lanka, winning by an innings and 242 runs in January, before beating their hosts by nine wickets in February. That double came after they brushed past India late last year. Anything near a similar performance would be enough to lead the favourites to victory.
South Africa boasts recent wins over Pakistan, first by two wickets in December and then by ten wickets at the start of 2025. They also had few issues beating Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. They won’t go down without a fight, and I expect a highly competitive contest.
Back a fast start from the favourites
Siding with Australia, we’re on the lookout for a bet with better odds than you’ll find available in the match-winner. Australia to explode out of the traps and lay down a marker with the highest opening partnership is a great bet at 1.9, and that’s good enough to follow as a single or add to your accumulators.
Australia highest opening partnership @ 1.9
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