NEW DELHI: Australia’s Usman Khawaja, a left-handed batter, set an unfavourable record by registering the joint-third longest duck by an Australian during the World Test Championship final at Lord’s on Wednesday.Khawaja’s innings concluded in the seventh over when he edged the ball to slips off South African fast bowler Kagiso Rabada after facing 20 deliveries.The list of Australian openers with longest ducks includes David Warner (22 balls), Shaun Marsh (21 balls), and Sammy Jones (20 balls).Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!At the start of the match, South Africa’s captain Temba Bavuma won the coin toss and elected to field first against the defending champions Australia under overcast conditions at the venue.Post-toss, Bavuma stated: “We will have a bowl first, looking at the overhead conditions. Too late to change the team; we have selected the best combination. All 15 of us are confident. It is a massive final; it should be a spectacle out here.”Australian captain Pat Cummins expressed satisfaction with batting first, commenting at the toss: “Happy to bat first. Looks like a good wicket with a few clouds. Prep wise it has been unreal, 15 guys working very hard for that title. You get used to it the more you are playing, we have had about 10 days prep and we are ready. Doesn’t feel like any extra pressure. WE’ve been here before and we’ve won it. This week is all about enjoying the moment.”
WTC Final 2025: South Africa vs Australia
South Africa (Playing XI): Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton, Wiaan Mulder, Temba Bavuma(c), Tristan Stubbs, David Bedingham, Kyle Verreynne(w), Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi.Australia (Playing XI): Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Cameron Green, Steven Smith, Travis Head, Beau Webster, Alex Carey(w), Pat Cummins(c), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood.
