As South Africa wrapped up the Centurion Test against Pakistan, they rolled into their first-ever World Test Championship (WTC) final. Now they will square off against defending champions Australia at Lord’s starting June 11, 2025.
Since the Proteas will face the mighty Aussies, they will have to take their best possible squad to England for the ultimate Test. With an eye on the all-important match, here’s our predicted South Africa squad for the WTC Final 2025.
| Player Name | Role |
|---|---|
| Aiden Markram | Batsman (Opener) |
| Ryan Rickleton | Batsman (Opener, Backup Wicketkeeper) |
| Wiaan Mulder | All-rounder |
| Tristan Stubbs | Batsman (Middle Order) |
| Temba Bavuma | Batsman (Captain) |
| David Bedingham | Batsman (Lower Middle Order) |
| Kyle Verreynne | Wicketkeeper-Batsman |
| Keshav Maharaj | Bowler (Left-arm Spinner) |
| Marco Jansen | Bowler (Fast) |
| Kagiso Rabada | Bowler (Fast) |
| Kwena Maphaka | Bowler (Fast) |
| Tony de Zorzi | Batsman (Top Order) |
| Corbin Bosch | All-rounder |
| Dane Petersen | Bowler (Medium-fast) |
| Lungi Ngidi | Bowler (Fast) |
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1. Aiden Markram
Aiden Markram has been one of South Africa’s reliable batters at the top in the WTC 2023-25 cycle. The 30-year-old batter has accumulated 572 runs in 18 innings while opening the batting.
The right-hand opener averages 33.64 with one hundred and three fifties under his belt. Markram has shown his batting excellence on tough pitches, which is a big positive for South Africa.
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2. Ryan Rickleton
Ryan Rickleton returned to the Test squad in August 2024, and within nine innings, he looks set to open for South Africa in the WTC Final 2025. He had a string of low scores after his return, but he slammed 101 against Sri Lanka and 259 versus Pakistan to slot in at the top.
In this WTC cycle, the left-hand batter has scored 451 runs in nine innings at an average of 56.37. Rickleton also doubles up as a backup wicketkeeper.
3. Wiaan Mulder
Just like Rickleton, Wiaan Mulder also came back into the squad at the same time. Since his return, the all-rounder has put up notable performances both with the bat and ball.
In the second Test against West Indies, Mulder bagged his second Test five-wicket haul. And on the Bangladesh tour, he scored 159 runs in two innings, including his maiden Test ton.
As he has proved his utility in both departments, Mulder seems to be a lock in the South African squad.
4. Tristan Stubbs
Tristan Stubbs is a star in the making for the Proteas. Since his Test debut in early 2024, he has been among the runs, amassing 500 runs across 16 innings.
Stubbs had a rather dull start to his career but made up for it with two Test tons later in the year. As he provides a solid option with the bat, Stubbs will slot in the middle order.
5. Temba Bavuma
Temba Bavuma has been a regular in South Africa’s Test squad since 2014. And in the recent matches, he has been in good touch, netting 609 runs in 11 innings at an impressive average of 60.90.
Along with that, Bavuma has slammed two centuries and four half-centuries in this WTC cycle. He has led the Proteas from the front and will look to emulate the same performance in the final.
On the captaincy front as well, Bavuma has a clean record, having won eight of the nine matches he has led South Africa. The other Test was a draw against West Indies.
So Bavuma will aim to keep his sheet clean and add the coveted WTC mace to his name.
6. David Bedingham
David Bedingham is South Africa’s leading run-getter in the current WTC edition. Thus far, he has accumulated 645 runs in 21 innings after making his debut in December 2023.
The right-hand batter has shown his commitment in the longest format, which has been reflected in his numbers. Bedingham’s stable batting in the lower middle order will be crucial for South Africa in the one-off contest against Australia.
7. Kyle Verreynne
Kyle Verreynne has been a go-getter in the squad, thanks to his brilliance with the bat and gloves. The keeper-batter is carving out a place for himself with his composed run-scoring.
Since the Bangladesh tour in October 2024, Verreynne has raised three Test hundred, including his maiden ton. In 14 innings, he has racked up 488 runs at an average of 37.53.
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8. Keshav Maharaj
Keshav Maharaj has been South Africa’s lead spinner for quite some time now. He is two shy of 200 Test wickets and will look to get to the milestone in the WTC Final.
Maharaj’s record in England is decent, with 21 scalps in 10 innings, which seals a spot for him in the XI. In this WTC cycle, Maharaj is South Africa’s second-highest wicket-taker, with 40 scalps in 13 innings at an average of 20.57.
9. Marco Jansen
Marco Jansen has been South Africa’s consistent force in the pace attack. The tall left-hand pacer has carried their fast bowling attack well alongside Kagiso Rabada.
Jansen can swing the ball both ways, which will be handy in the seaming conditions in England. Plus, he can also trouble batters with his pace and bounce, which makes him an automatic choice in the squad.
10. Kagiso Rabada
The one man who walks in the squad almost every time. Kagiso Rabada has been the leader of the pace attack for almost a decade now.
His impressive wicket-taking ability is second to none. With over 327 wickets in 70 Tests, he will have the huge responsibility to keep the Australian batter quiet.
In the current cycle, Rabada is also the top wicket-taker for South Africa, bagging 47 wickets in 20 innings at an average of 20.
11. Kwena Maphaka
After making waves at the 2024 Under-19 World Cup, Kwena Maphaka is making quick strides in international cricket. 2024 was a remarkable year for the young pacer, with South Africa handing him T20I and ODI debuts.
Then 2025 came ringing with the Test debut, making Maphaka the youngest to play in the longer format for South Africa. He has only one Test cap but looks like a promising talent who will board the flight to London perhaps as a backup pacer.
12. Tony de Zorzi
Tony de Zorzi has decent numbers in his short Test career. He debuted for the Proteas in the whites in 2023 and has accumulated 600 runs in 20 outings, including his career-best score of 177.
The left-hand batter can bat in the top order, though, has been off-colour in recent games. So that will see him travel as a backup batter.
13. Corbin Bosch
Corbin Bosch is a tad late to international cricket, having made his ODI and Test debuts in December 2024. On his Test debut against Pakistan in the Boxing Day Test, he scored a crucial 81-run knock while batting at No. 9.
Bosch also displayed his all-round skills, taking a fifer in the first innings to announce his arrival in style. With the flexibility he offers, the management will most likely have him in the squad.
14. Dane Petersen
Having made his Test debut in 2020, Dane Petersen wasn’t even in contention for four years. But a surprise call-up for the New Zealand tour in early 2024 has revived his Test career.
Since his return to the South African colours, Petersen has picked up 21 scalps in five Tests. He is a medium pacer who can be a backup in the squad.
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15. Lungi Ngidi
Another quick from South Africa who will make it to the squad for the WTC Final 2025. Lungi Ngidi has had a stop-start career due to injuries.
He has featured in only two matches in 2024 before getting sidelined by an injury. Ngidi has now recovered from the injury and might slide into the squad that will fly to England in June 2025.
