Australia will have to take some difficult decisions to pick a starting XI for the World Test Championship 2023-2025 final against South Africa.
On May 13, defending champions Australia named a 15-member squad for the 2023-2025 World Test Championship final, against South Africa at Lord’s. Pat Cummins returns to lead them, while Josh Hazlewood and Cameron Green also returned to the squad.
Australia squad for WTC final
Pat Cummins (c), Alex Carey (wk), Josh Inglis (wk), Scott Boland, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Matthew Kuhnemann, Sam Konstas, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Beau Webster. Travelling reserve: Brendan Doggett.
While almost every member of the squad was more or less a straightforward choice, picking an XI may not be as easy. Some hard decisions will need to be taken.
Green versus Webster versus Inglis versus Konstas
When Smith decided to open in 2024, Australia slotted in Green at No.4: he averaged 50.33 across six innings before an injury ruled him out. With a 100-run cut-off, the next-best average for Australia in 2024 was Head’s 45.50.
Two years ago, Inglis had won a World Test Championship medal before playing a Test match. When he finally played, he made a century on debut but fell for a duck in the next innings.
Webster debuted in Sydney in early 2025. He has a lowest score of 23 and an average of 50 across three Tests and four innings – but at six and seven. Since Green is unlikely to be fit for bowling before the 2025/26 Ashes, Webster is the only bowler among the three.
Of the three, Australia have backed Green for the longest period of time, and he may get the nod if there is only one slot. Webster’s chance may come if the wicket is on the flatter side. In that case, their ageing fast bowlers are likely to need a break.
But what if there are two slots? There is no reason to assume that Konstas will open batting. The choice will come down to two out of these four, but that will depend largely on who opens batting.
Who will open with Khawaja?
One can assume that Carey, the incumbent keeper, will assume duties with the big gloves. Smith, Labuschagne, Head, and Khawaja are also certainties. That still leaves two open spots in the top seven. To determine that, choosing Khawaja’s opening partner is important.
“I think [Inglis] could do it, but I’ve said the same about Marnus,” said national selector George Bailey while announcing the squad. “I do think that it’s a role that more people could do it than we probably give credit to. I know there is a prevailing thought that it is a specialised role, but I think in certain conditions, there are opportunities at different times where other guys could do it.”
Head
Head opened with Khawaja in the last three Tests in India in 2023/24, and again in two Tests Sri Lanka in 2024/25. As opener, his numbers (average 45.85, strike rate 81) make ominous reading, and are slightly better than his career numbers (42.74 and 68). If Head does open, Australia can play both Green and Webster (Inglis is almost certainly behind Green in the pecking order).
Yet, none of these innings have come in conditions where fast bowlers were likely to call the shots with the new ball. It will be great if it comes off, but it will be an enormous gamble for a WTC final.
Labuschagne
Another option that may allow Australia to pick both Green and Webster, though at one-down, they may be batting too high in seaming conditions. Perhaps Smith or Head can fill that slot.
There is reason in Bailey’s backing of Labuschagne. There is a prevailing thought that the incumbent No.3, having often faced the new ball, is the best option to promote to the top. Unfortunately, Labuschagne has opened 15 times in first-class cricket. Only one of these has been since 2016 – though he made a hundred on that occasion, against Middlesex in 2024. When Australia lost an early wicket against India in 2024/25, Labuschagne struggled against Jasprit Bumrah.
Like Head, it will be a risk. Unlike Head, Labuschagne is not known for taking the game away if he survives an hour. Perhaps Head is the better gamble of the two.
Inglis (or Green?)
Inglis opening batting will help Australia assume the familiarity of Khawaja, Labuschagne, Smith, and Head all batting in their favourite positions, followed by one of Green and Webster.
Unfortunately, Inglis has never opened in first-class cricket and is only two Tests old, which will make his promotion a bigger gamble than Head or Labuschagne. At the same time, it would ensure everyone else bats in the positions they are comfortable at.
Konstas
Konstas has not only opened but has taken Bumrah down in that role, that too on Test debut. His ultra-aggressive, uber-left-field batting has raised eyebrows, but India had no answer to his methods that day.
This is not to say that Konstas will replicate that Boxing Day onslaught at Lord’s. But if there is risk in using him, opening with non-specialists is not risk-free either. Additionally, Konstas opening will also be a specialist opener doing the job, allowing – as in the previous combination – everyone to bat in their comfort zone. And if the teenager indeed comes out in flying colours, what better outcome can there be?
And finally, can Boland play?
For years, Australia's bowling attack has been Starc, Hazlewood, Cummins, and Lyon and, despite the occasional burst of excellence, no one has seriously threatened to break through.
Now, however, Boland has emerged as a serious candidate. After replacing the injured Hazlewood during the 2024/25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Boland finished with 21 wickets in three Tests at 13.19 and a strike rate of 29, outdoing both Starc and Cummins. In the 2021-2023 final against India, Boland had replaced Hazlewood at The Oval and finished with 2-59 and 3-46.
Despite everything, Boland is unlikely to play in the final – unless someone is injured (or a greentop makes Australia back an extreme pace attack).
