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What a fantastic sight it really is to see Team Australia owning the big stage, which they actually managed in 2023, wherein the team that wears yellow in white-ball cricket, emerged with plain intent in Test finale of 2023 with one aim alone: to snub India on neutral territory in the previous WTC final.
But this time around, Head and Khawaja's key top order stand could spoil the Protea's big and unavoidable fast bowling cauldron.
Head will remember his blazing Test ton that came in the final of the WTC a couple of year ago, an effort so sublime that it left India gasping and maybe that knock, in particular, signalled the subcontinental force's downward spiral.
But this time around, Khawaja could join forces too, to ramp up runs up the order before the likes of the great Steve Smith steps in to unfurl his class against the Proteas.
Please check the expected playing XI of a team that may perhaps just hold the Protea by a pinch of suprise.
Openers: Travis Head and Usman Khawaja
Destructive opener and someone you could trust to either fire the opening salvo or snub even the best red ball bowlers out there; there really is never a dull day when Head gets going, which has often been the stage.
Khawaja, on the other hand, is not too rampant a player but a dogged, classic Test match batter who loves to get under the skin of his opponents.
This is just the kind of cricket, its brand being bold not brash, courageous not callous, that the Aussies would want their very top order to display come the contest where being the second-best could even be considered a loss.
Number 3: Cameron Green
Perth-born Cameron Green is all of 26 and yet, contends with a sense of maturity and calmness that extends his years.
With a highest score of 174 not out and best bowling figures of 5 for 24, it could be argued that the self-effacing cricketer is one of the finest finds of Australian national cricket team.
Having mounted a recovery from injury just in time, he will likely be raring to go and contribute to his team's winning cause in a sizeable manner. At number three, Green can be destructive and yet, bat with an element of solidity.
Middle Order: Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Alex Carey
This is perhaps one of the strongest middle orders of world cricket in the men's game alongside England.
In Smith, there's a legend of the game, someone who's still going strong even as his famous contemporary like Virat Kohli has called time on his Test career.
In Labuschage, the Aussies have a perfect melange of solidity, and fluidity in the middle and not to forget, 4396 Test runs with 11 hundreds to his name.
The always quiet but ever thinking keeper-batter Carey can whack the red ball, play blockathons in different sessions and to put it mildly, change gears in scoring.
What else do the Australians need when it most matters other than these three of the middle order?
All Rounders: Pat Cummins
In Pat Cummins, their captain, Australia have a courageous and match-winning leader with no fewer than 294 Test wickets and 1454 runs to his name.
As a matter of fact, Australian captain is fondly hailed as the 'Superman' of the side, for his breakthtaking fast medium bowling and the ability to apply pressure, and yet, never be fazed by it.
He's already led Australia to definitive title winning moments before such as the big ICC 2023 ODI final, so Cummins has the ability to lead the team to moments of glory before.
Can he do the same this time around whilst wearing the familiar Test whites?
Spinner: Nathan Lyon
Lyon is a legend of the sport and that isn't the popular view, say, inside of Australia, rather that of the worldwide view of the game in its current conception.
They title him the GOAT because only a few others, other than Nathan Lyon, the iconic spinner, have been able to truly take the micky out of the batters confronting the Aussies.
Thus far, Lyon, with 553 wickets has tricked batters, shortened their confidence, emerged with 24 fifers at the Test match level, but most importantly, performed just when the Australians needed it from their spin ace.
This time around, too, they'd need the mild-mannered cricketer to spin the best way forward.
Fast bowlers: Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc
Here's a stat for the ages, really, for the ages!
Among them, this famed trinity of Australian cricket, including Pat Cummins has actually claimed 1508 Test wickets. Does that say a thing or two about the sheer dominance that the mighty talented troika has enjoyed, unquestionably wanting to do the same in the next few hours against South Africa.
WTC Finals: Australia will enter Lord's with the belief that they can win it. The Proteas now must guard against getting complascent for their challengers will definitely come hard at them and leave nothing to chance.
