How to watch ICC World Test Championship Final 2025 in Australia

Australia’s path to the World Test Championship final has been littered with controversy, including an Ashes escape. Get up to date before the Aussies take on South Africa.

Australia will play South Africa in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final at Lord’s, striving to defend the title it won two years ago when it defeated India.

But first — how did we get here?

Let’s look back at Australia’s run to the decider that will crown the best Test nation on the planet.

The Aussies’ road to the final began in June 2023, spanning six Test series and ending with an away series victory over Sri Lanka in February.

Their journey, under coach Andrew McDonald, was full of highs and devastating lows and, at times, marred with controversy.

The Ashes

England v Australia (June – July 2023)

Australia’s campaign got off to a blockbuster start with the Ashes in England, a seesawing affair that finished in a 2-2 draw.

It was a series that will long live in Ashes memory, not for the result but for the controversy that lived up to the centuries-old rivalry.

After racing to a 2-0 lead it looked like Australia were poised to win their first series on English soil since 2001.

But the lead came at a cost. Nathan Lyon went down in the second Test with a calf injury and missed the remainder of the series.

Buoyed by its Bazball aggression, England roared back, levelling the series 2-2 in a gripping finale during which Stuart Broad took the last two wickets in his final Test match.

But it was Alex Carey’s stumping of Jonny Bairstow that will be remembered most.

The incident triggered a maelstrom of debate about the ‘spirit of the game’ and some heated scenes in the Lord’s Long Room during the lunch break.

Benaud-Qadir Trophy

Australia v Pakistan (December 2023 – January 2024)

Next up for Australia was Pakistan in the second edition of the Benaud-Qadir Trophy.

Named after two prolific spin bowlers (Abdul Qadir of Pakistan and Australia’s Richie Benaud), it was a fitting stage for one of the greatest spinners to return from injury and leave his mark in the history books.

Before Lyon stole the show, it was David Warner’s time to shine in his farewell tour. The veteran opener set the tone for what would be a dominant 3-0 series sweep, smashing 164 off 211 in a vintage knock.

But it was Lyon joining an echelon of bowling greats that was the highlight of the summer. An overturned LBW review delivered the Aussie his 500th Test wicket, and he became the third Australian behind Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath to reach the rare milestone.

Frank Worrell Trophy

Australia v West Indies (January 2024)

After a one-sided victory against Pakistan, Australia looked set for another dominant series following a commanding ten wicket win in the opening Test against the West Indies.

What followed shocked the cricket world.

The Frank Worrell Trophy was never supposed to be close. The Caribbean cricket nation hadn’t beaten Australia in a Test since 2003. And a series win? You’d have to go back all the way to 1992-93.

But with an energetic young bowler leading the charge, history had other ideas.

Playing in just his second Test, Shamar Joseph tore through Australia with a staggering 7/68 – including the victory-sealing thunderbolt that cleaned up Hazlewood’s off-stump to send the visitors into raptures of celebration.

The famous win ended a 27-year drought on Australian soil and levelled the series 1-1.

The win was even more remarkable given Australia’s dominance in the first Test. Hazlewood took nine wickets, Head was in one of his moods and it was all wrapped up on the third morning.

Despite still retaining the Frank Worrell trophy with the draw, it was a bad loss for Australia – and they had dropped critical WTC points with tougher opponents ahead.

Trans-Tasman Trophy

New Zealand v Australia (February – March 2024)

After their shock loss to the West Indies, Australia were determined to show it was still the best in the world.

And what better way to show that than to re-establish your dominance over Tasman rivals.

New Zealand’s last series win was in 1989-90, and Australia weren’t about to end that streak.

Cameron Green blasted an unbeaten 174 and the Kiwis looked in all sorts facing a rampaging Aussie attack in their first contest.

A top order collapse from the Aussies gave their opposition a sniff in the following match, but the class of Mitchell Marsh and Carey’s 140-run sixth wicket stand steered them to a series sweep.

Border-Gavaskar Trophy

Australia v India (November 2024 – January 2025)

An unproven batting line-up and India’s recent dominance set the stage for a hugely-anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

And it didn’t disappoint, with captivating debuts, Bumrah brilliance, and fiery on-field exchanges, it was Test cricket at its best.

It was a brutal start for Australia — a Jasprit Bumrah masterclass fit for the best bowler on the planet tore through their top-order.

Desperate to turn around a 295-run loss, it was Head who provided the fuel that lit a fire through the whole team. His rapid-fire century (140 off 141) was the catalyst Australia desperately needed.

A draw at the Gabba set up a blockbuster Boxing Day Test, where a new name entered the global cricket stratosphere.

Opening the batting on debut. In front of 87,242 people at the MCG. Facing the world’s most feared bowler. Most would falter. But Sam Konstas didn’t blink.

Fearless, captivating and electrifying – the 19-year-old’s ramp-heavy innings provided edge-of-your-seat entertainment worthy of a box-office blockbuster.

While only brief, it turned an unknown teen into a national sensation, and Australia rode that momentum to a resounding 184-run win, before icing the series in Sydney.

By lifting the Border-Gavaskar Trophy for the first time in a decade with a 3-1 win, Australia had stared down adversity and smashed it for six.

Warne-Muralitharan Trophy

Sri Lanka v Australia (January – February 2025)

Australia’s recent Test form had been almost flawless, but with a WTC final on the line, would the trickier conditions of subcontinent cricket trip them up?

The answer: a resounding no.

Australia didn’t just beat Sri Lanka twice — it steamrolled them.

And if Smith wasn’t already considered one of the best batsmen ever, his form in Sri Lanka would have changed some stubborn minds.

The hosts’ demoralising defeats began with a spectacular Usman Khawaja performance, the opener bringing up his maiden double century.

But it was the summer of Smith as Australia stampeded to a win by an innings and 242 runs, followed by nine-wicket victory.

Following on from his twin tons against India, Smith reached another two centuries, bringing his career tally to an incredible 36.

It was a significant moment for Australian cricket on the first day of the series as Smith scored his 10,000th Test run, cementing himself as one of the best to ever hold a Willow bat.

South Africa’s journey

It’s been a successful few years for South African cricket, the Proteas finishing on top of the standings after winning four of six Test series.

After beginning slowly with a drawn series against India and a 0-2 defeat to New Zealand, South Africa quickly gained momentum.

They won the next four series without dropping a match, defeating West Indies, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan on the way to the WTC decider.