By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
South Africa’s captain Temba Bavuma has announced the playing XI for the ICC World Test Championship Final against Australia starting on Wednesday, 11 June 2025.
Bavuma revealed their starting line-up during a press conference in London on Tuesday afternoon.
Wiaan Mulder will bat at No 3 in the order, while Lungi Ngidi has edged out Dane Paterson for a place in the playing XI
“Mulder is quite young in that position but, I’ve played with him and seen the way he has grown in the last two years within the red-ball format,” Bavuma said.
“It’s about giving him a lot more confidence, keep backing him and just allowing him to do what he does best.
“He has an opportunity in a pressure situation, but I think he can take comfort from the fact that the guys are backing him. We just want him to play his game,” Bavuma said.
Mulder is not a natural selection at No 3, of course, but has been slotted in there in order for the team to have a fifth bowling option and specifically a bowler who can swing the ball.
The most difficult selection decision, however, was between Ngidi and Paterson as the third seamer behind automatic selections Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen – with Ngidi being preferred despite Paterson’s fine record during the WTC and the fact that he has being playing for Middlesex in the County Championship this season and is consequently familiar with conditions at Lord’s.
“Probably one of the tougher decisions that has been made. We see what Dane Paterson did for us to the end of last season,” Bavuma said.
“But it was more from a tactical point of view, probably a little bit more pace from Lungi and he’s a bit taller as well.
“Lungi also has a better record, not taking away anything from Patto. He has the experience, he’s played here before, not that Patto hasn’t. I think Lungi will complement that bowling attack a little more. We have a guy like Mulder, who can give us something similar to Patto,” Bavuma said.
Also, both Tristan Stubbs and David Bedingham have found a place in the team. The four players named in the original squad who miss out on the Test are Paterson, Tony de Zorzi, Senruam Muthusamy and Corbin Bosch.
Proteas team: Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton, Wiaan Mulder, Temba Bavum (capt), Tristan Stubbs, David Bedingham, Kyle Verreynne, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi.