*Official* WTC FINAL Australia vs South Africa 2025

[govinda indian fan]

Congratulations @Kenneth Viljoen @Stefan9

 

[Athlai]

Has anyone remarked on how the first 3 WTC winners are the same and in the same order as the first 3 rugby world cups.

India winning the 2027 rugby world cup will help continue the pattern

 

[halba]

2nd best SA pacer?

Yeah, but that's for a different thread.

He will end up at #1 if he plays for another 5 seasons. Steyn 439 wkts @ 23 AVE, Rabada already has 327 wkts @ 22 AVE and has likely another 5 seasons remaining, hes quite a strong/fit guy and is rarely injured. Bowlers usually retire around 35-36 maximum.

#3 is Donald.

 

[Son Of Coco]

Congratulations to SA! Too good in the end. Just goes to show that you can't afford to give away any wickets when batting is especially tough because it will bite you on the arse if conditions become easier.

 

[Gob]

Good win, actually made a bit of money here 3.60 on South Africa was too good to pass up. Definitely the better team these 3 and a bit days IMO despite the first innings batting collapse.

Bit concerned for the Aussies as everything I've been concerned about proved decisive. This team is in a rapid decline and will likely get worse before the selectors wake up and start making changes. The "there is no one better to replace them" crowd is wrong, this is the Titanic heading to an ice berg and the course won't be changed until it's too late (the Ashes).

We will probably lose the Ashes this summer with a declining, aging side. Marnus and Usman are not getting better. Uzzie's form against mediocre spin in Sri Lanka means nothing for the home Ashes. Green looks a long way off still and Head has been basically awful for the last 2 years barring a couple of blinding innings. Smith and Carey are the only 2 of the bats I have any faith in on current form and I'd say the same about Webster but he's still so new.

GAS, Gob etc. aren't totally wrong though. It's not like we're sitting on benched world beaters. Konstas was never that good and while I'm adamant Inglis should have played this game and is more likely to score than some of the incumbents I wouldn't bet my house on it.

The bowlers are still decent quality but are on retirement's doorstep. That includes Boland. Reckon we're in a bit of strife

As much as I despise bazball, you can't have Green, Marnus and Usman at the top 3. You need someone to put the pressure back like Warner did. It does not have to be a century or even a fifty but something to get the innings moving and Konstas is the man for that. On the positive side of things, Smith doesn't need surgery so he may play a part later in the Windies series according to adam collins

Great win for SA though. Had the best of conditions but still played well enough to win

 

[Xix2565]

talent development gets you to the final, south africa have had brilliant teams over the years

its mental fortitude that gets you over the line

I don't really feel that the fortitude was lacking that much over the years. They've been unlucky, just like Aus have been lucky quite often. Never felt that they were mentally weaker here anyway, just maybe outmatched on paper. But they've won brilliantly, and with a team that all of SA should be proud of.

 

[kevinw]

Rabada has firmly cemented himself as an all time great fast bowler. Still has time to surpass Steyn. After all he went through, so happy how he's bounced back.

I think SA would've probably won at least 1 mace if the test championship was around Steyn's time tho

KG will not only be SAf's top wicket taker but will be judged as their best seamer of all time.

 

[SkyBlue]

Starc - 35
Hazelwood - 34
Smith - 36
Lyon - 38
Khawaja - 38

Looks like the Ashes would be the last dance for many Aussie cricketers

 

[jcas0167]

Has anyone remarked on how the first 3 WTC winners are the same and in the same order as the first 3 rugby world cups.

They have not. That is uncanny.

 

[MasterBlaster24]

Congrats Proteas!

 

[mackembhoy]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1933598883558343133

 

[Kenneth Viljoen]

Awesome win , this will give this team so much confidence going forward, SA needed this win big time , definitely a few beers to crack open ! Cheers

 

[SkyBlue]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1933598883558343133

There were no doubts about his ability in test cricket.

He's not good enough for SA in white ball cricket and I'll stand by it.

 

[Dendarii]

I was holding it together, but that cheer when Bavuma's name was called got me. I've lived through it all, from 1992 onwards. It's been long road, but this is the greatest moment for me as a South African cricket fan.

 

[SkyBlue]

Would this be anywhere near as important as your Rugby world cup wins @Saffer fans?

 

[Johan]

Had to take a few urgent phone calls so a little late, But Congrats to SA and all their fans, a truly deserved victory. Bavuma's journey from the immense criticism he got when he came around, all the way to becoming a WTC winning Batsman and captain has truly been a remarkable journey. Markram's hundred and Bavuma's 65 while literally limping, would go down as legendary knocks and deservedly so.

 

[Aritro]

I was holding it together, but that cheer when Bavuma's name was called got me. I've lived through it all, from 1992 onwards. It's been long road, but this is the greatest moment for me as a South African cricket fan.

Congratulations to Dendarii and all other CW South Africans. Enjoy, folks

 

[Chin Music]

Baie Geluk ZA!

 

[Gob]

Also have to say Haze deserves the place in the team but Boland with the way he has bowled in the BGT could have made a bigger difference. Would have been the ideal bowler down the slope with the ball keeping low and he has the tendency to run through line-ups #captainhindsightthoughts

 

[kingkallis]