Cricket betting tips: Australia v South Africa World Test Championship final predictions, preview and best bets

This Wednesday brings with it a much-anticipated occasion in the world of Test cricket as the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground hosts the final of the ICC World Test Championship. Read on to find a detailed preview and the best bet recommendation for this clash, and don’t forget to take advantage of the selected betting offers listed below to maximise your betting value.

Cricket betting tips: Australia v South Africa World Test Championship final Predictions

Can South Africa Spoil the Party at Lord’s?

• Starc leads Australia’s left-arm pace attack and thrives in overcast conditions with the Dukes ball
• Australia remained unbeaten across all six series in the 2023–2025 WTC cycle, winning 13 of 19 matches
• Rabada has collected 13 wickets at an average of 19.38 in just two Test appearances at Lord’s

Our Best Bet

The fixture pits two nations at opposite ends of their recent cricketing journeys, with defending champions Australia set to clash with a resurgent South Africa side that finished atop the WTC table. Though England’s own summer began with tepid encounters against Zimbabwe and the West Indies, the grandeur and stakes of this finale provide the perfect antidote to that flat start.

Australia approach the decider with the familiarity of big-match experience and a largely unchanged setup since they lifted the mace two years ago. Their clinical 3-1 series victory over India earlier this year reaffirmed their credentials, with a robust top order and relentless bowling unit driving their dominance. The anticipation is high to see who will replace David Warner at the top of the order, with selectors reportedly considering a reshuffle that could involve Marnus Labuschagne opening for the first time in red-ball cricket.

For South Africa, this marks their maiden appearance in a WTC final. Having navigated a favourable fixture list to secure their spot, they arrive at Lord’s with a point to prove. Led by Temba Bavuma, the Proteas bring with them a potent blend of established campaigners and emerging talents, all eager to end their long ICC trophy drought. With rain forecast and unpredictable English conditions expected, the toss and timing of innings could prove crucial in shaping the outcome of the match.

South Africa’s preparations have been underpinned by a recent warm-up against Zimbabwe, which saw their top-order trio of Rickelton, Stubbs, and Bavuma all notch half-centuries. Kagiso Rabada, who enjoys a formidable record at this venue, returns to lead the seam attack with renewed vigour, while left-arm quick Marco Jansen adds a different dynamic with his steep bounce. Meanwhile, Australia’s preparation hit a minor snag as their squad were briefly denied access to the Lord’s nets, though they’ve since resumed full training and will be confident of continuing their fine record at this ground.

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Best Bet for the Day: Australia To Win & Mitchell Starc Clear Top Australia Bowler (1st Innings)

Combining an Australian triumph with Mitchell Starc leading the wicket-taking charts in the first innings offers both value and a high degree of logical cohesion. The left-arm speedster has been instrumental across Australia’s campaigns over the WTC cycle, and his ability to extract swing early—particularly under overcast skies at Lord’s—makes him a standout threat in this setting.

Starc thrives when there is cloud cover, and England’s unsettled forecast is tailor-made for his angle and trajectory. With Hazlewood and Cummins providing consistent pressure from the other end, Starc is free to go on the attack, targeting the stumps and pads with deliveries that tail back in sharply. This dynamic often brings early breakthroughs and can lead to a flurry of wickets once he gets on a roll.

The South African top order, while talented, lacks the depth of experience against Australia’s pace quartet. Should Starc strike early, he may well run through a middle order that has not yet faced this calibre of sustained hostility. Given the combination of conditions, match pressure, and Starc’s attacking brief, the scenario of him finishing as the first-innings leader for wickets in green and gold becomes a highly plausible one.

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