Australia and South Africa are set to face each other in the ICC World Test Championship 2025 final at Lord’s Cricket Ground in London on Wednesday, marking their first Test encounter in two years. The match will also revive a historic rivalry that saw these teams play at the same venue 113 years ago in a unique triangular tournament.South Africa secured their place in the final with a superior record, winning 8 out of 12 Tests and achieving a points percentage of 69.44. Australia qualified with 67.54 points percentage across 19 matches. The two cricket powerhouses have played 101 Tests against each other, with their rivalry featuring significant moments including the controversial Sandpaper Gate incident in 2018. Remarkably, Australia and South Africa have previously met at Lord’s, with this matchup coming in the Triangular Tournament of 1912, which involved England as the third team.The 1912 tournament was groundbreaking as the first Test competition featuring more than two teams. It remained unique until the Asian Test Championship in 1998.
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During that historic Lord’s match in 1912, South Africa batted first after winning the toss but were dismissed for 263. Australia responded with 390 runs in their first innings. The South African team, led by Frank Mitchell, could only manage 173 in their second innings. Australia secured a comfortable 10-wicket victory.The teams played another match at Trent Bridge which ended in a draw. England ultimately won the tournament, which was never repeated. The 1912 tournament format featuring nine matches played between May and August, with each team facing the others three times.
The upcoming final between Pat Cummins’ Australian team and Temba Bavuma’s South African side will write a new chapter in this historic rivalry, connecting the present with their past encounter at Lord’s from the early 20th century.
