*Official* WTC FINAL Australia vs South Africa 2025

[Gob]

Surely he will want to finish with a home ashes?

This injury could put him out for months so who knows.

 

[GRAB]

Whatever happens, a one-off test match still feels more like a post-season exhibition game than a final.

 

[Johan]

Disheartening for Smith, at the end of the day he is a 36 year old veteran batsman, just finding form and his way back to the top recently and now this happens, wish him a speedy recovery.

 

[Gob]

SA to get this 3 down. Absolutely nothing in this

Haha called it so early. It wasn't gambhiring at all.

 

[Gob]

Must be one difficult ep coming for the Grade Cricketer boys

 

[kevinw]

Australia's bowlers can't sustain all three forms of cricket

They're too old now. Likes of Starc and Hazelwood need to quit white ball if they want to prolong their test career but that IPL money would be very hard to let go off so most likely we might see some early test retirements coming up post Ashes

Are Lance Morris and Fergus O'Neill made of glass like Jhye Richardson? Australia will need to blood some new bowlers. I think Starc and Hazlewood - possibly Lyon - are done after the Ashes.

 

[govinda indian fan]

Also won't be surprised if that was the last of Smith in tests.

Ah plz dont say that he is best batsmen since i started watching cricket in 2007 ( i have watched tendulkar ponting and kallis ) would love to see him tour india in 2027.smudge plz dont retire

 

[PlayerComparisons]

I think smith is aiming for the 2027 ashes

 

[Johan]

Smith will bat as long as he physically can, He clearly loves batting and the game, He'd probably find the bat harder to let go than Anderson has found the ball, His retirement is entirely dependant on his form.

 

[Gob]

By all reports, he'll play in t20s

 

[Niall]

[/QUOTE]

Smith will bat as long as he physically can, He clearly loves batting and the game, He'd probably find the bat harder to let go than Anderson has found the ball, His retirement is entirely dependant on his form.

Interesting he retired from ODIS , I thought he probably could hang around for 2027 world cup and the carrot of winning that three times would be massive IMO. If he doesn't think he can last another few years would it be that much of a shock to retire after retaining the ashes in Decemember?
I recall someone here saying they expect him to walk away earlier than people think, and what exactly he has left to achieve?

He's probably not good enough to do the franchise stuff ala Maxwell also.

 

[The_Rey]

"Smudge" was nearly crying on the field when he did his finger
Not the first time all we've seen him cry mind

 

[Dissector]

Have a feeling Australia will get a couple of quick wickets early on and put SA under a bit of pressure with ghosts of past defeats floating in their psyche. If they can push through and get the runs it will definitely make a huge dent in the choker tag (though it won't completely go away till they win a World Cup).

 

[GRAB]

Have a feeling Australia will get a couple of quick wickets early on and put SA under a bit of pressure with ghosts of past defeats floating in their psyche. If they can push through and get the runs it will definitely make a huge dent in the choker tag (though it won't completely go away till they win a World Cup).

Yeah, fresh bowlers and fresh batters always makes for a dicey hour...

 

[ashley bach]

69 to win..

Only 2 wickets down too

@Molehill

 

[CartyDurham]

Only caught today’s action and it was a tremendous effort by Markram and Bavuma.

be interesting though if those two fall with the first 20 runs scored tomorrow but surely this has to be a saffer win from here

 

[CartyDurham]

"Smudge" was nearly crying on the field when he did his finger
Not the first time all we've seen him cry mind

What are you saying ?

 

[CartyDurham]

Whatever happens, a one-off test match still feels more like a post-season exhibition game than a final.

Maybe they could play one test at their home ground and if all square a decider at lords ?

 

[Fuller Pilch]

Whatever happens, a one-off test match still feels more like a post-season exhibition game than a final.

No, it doesn't

 

[Son Of Coco]

Shame to hear about Smith. Hope he recovers in time for the Ashes.

Every difficult 4th innings chase has 1 big partnership that makes it look doable, and once that's broken everything falls apart. Make for compelling viewing tho. We may actually get to Day 4!

They're playing on a completely different wicket on day 3. Unfortunately Starc and Hazlewood finding it so easy was an indication of things to come.

SA should be thoroughly investigated for sneaking in over night with pitch flattening tools. Has turned the game into a farce.