AB de Villiers Wants Temba Bavuma To Lead From The Front In WTC Final Against Australia

Former South African cricketer AB de Villiers has shared his thoughts ahead of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) Final. South Africa will take on Australia at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground in June 2025. This is South Africa’s first-ever WTC Final appearance. De Villiers wants South Africa captain Temba Bavuma to play a big role in the match.

De Villiers Backs Bavuma And Verreynne

AB de Villiers spoke about the importance of scoring runs at Lord’s. He said that South Africa must put up a strong total to support their bowlers. “It is always important to get runs on the board at Lord’s. That gives the bowlers more freedom,” he said in a video shared by the ICC.

He also pointed out the key batters in the team. De Villiers said Temba Bavuma, being the captain, should lead the batting lineup. He also highlighted the role of wicketkeeper-batter Kyle Verreynne. “Kyle can bat well with the tail. Those 80 to 100 extra runs at the end can make a big difference,” he explained.

De Villiers believes that experienced players like Aiden Markram and Ryan Rickelton must also maintain good form. He stressed the importance of finishing the innings strongly if the top order fails. “Once the top order is gone, someone like Kyle should take charge and guide the lower order,” he added.

South Africa’s Road To The Final

South Africa finished at the top of the WTC table with a points percentage of 69.44. They won eight out of 12 matches and drew one. The Proteas were dominant at home, defeating teams like Pakistan and Sri Lanka. They also drew a hard-fought series against India.

Their away record was also impressive. South Africa won series in the West Indies and Bangladesh. Their only major loss came in New Zealand, where several key players were unavailable.

This strong performance helped them reach the WTC Final for the first time in history.

Australia Eyeing Back-To-Back Titles

Australia will play their second WTC Final in a row. They finished second in the table with a points percentage of 67.54. Their campaign began with a drawn Ashes series in England. They then defeated Pakistan 3-0 at home.

The Aussies also won series against New Zealand and Sri Lanka. They even beat India at home for the first time in years. A drawn series against the West Indies was their only slight hiccup.

Now, they will look to defend their WTC title against a confident South African team.

The WTC Final between South Africa and Australia promises to be a thrilling contest. With both teams in top form, cricket fans are in for an exciting match at Lord’s.

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