Picture Credit: X
Big contests are like a super Sunday, or a big fat wedding, where an ensemble of guests and loved and dear ones convene to mark a special, once-in-a-lifetime celebration. The gathering is measured in big numbers and the occasion is marked to uphold a special, incredible event. There are multiple winners in it at the end because the occasion and reason for celebration are bigger than anything else at the end of the day.
Such is the case with cricket and exceptional occasions such as the World Test Championship final. Oh, but what makes this titanic struggle for cricketing supremacy is the very fact that two distintincly powered and very capable teams are about to unlock over a period of what one hopes are dry days of cricket sans any spot of rain to exhibit the very best they have in a great struggle for one main cup: the WTC trophy.
South Africa, as gritty a team as they are, at times, vulnerable will lock horns against a titan of the world cricket stage, an Australian side that is about as charismatic as it can be sloppy, especially when counter-attacked.
On the whole, Australia hold the egde over the Proteas, and quite convincingly so, having won 17 Test series against their rivals, while the other hand, the Proteas have only won on six different occasions in the five-day format.
But while we are still at some distance before deciding who can take the big fat prized crown at the end of the day, what we do know is that some really talented match-winning names, about to lock horns at England's Lord's are approaching personal or individual milestones.
So who are they and what sort of player milestones await the fans in the big SA vs Australia WTC 2025 final contest?
The sensational skipper of the Australian side, somene who already enjoys a great Test match winning record of 74 percent with 20 wins out of 32 matches will be a really great figure for the Australians in this fast-approaching contest. He's only lost 7 Tests thus far.
However, in the World Test Championship specifically, the tall right-handed all rounder has a win percentage of 58 percent, which isn't too bad at all, right?
From 26 games, he's won 15 already with 1 to play for as the big final stage arrives.
That's the captaincy record, but as an individual Test cricket performer, Cummins, is just 6 wickets shy of 300 Test wickets in his career.
He surely can get there, with a fifer or let's say, 3 wickets apiece in each of the innings. But hard to say what will happen ahead.
For someone who has already collected and gone beyond 300 Test wickets for South Africa, having a brilliant Test match bowling career average of 22.01, Rabada is also a force to reckon with when it comes to playing specifically against South Africa's great rivals, the Aussies.
He needs just 1 more wicket, just a solitary wicket to collect his 50th in Test match cricket against the indomitable Australians.
Truth is, even if they bat out of their skins, it is difficult to see how Australians will be able to deny Rabada his glorious milestone. He also has three five-wicket-hauls versus Australia in the Test format.
Moreover, against teams like India and England, Rabada has claimed well over 50 plus wickets. This time, it's Australia's time, right KG?
A smashing right hander, someone who besides being the best in the current Protea line-up, also has the makings to be a greatly influential talent with the bat in hand, if Markram was to do away with just one factor that hurts his current developing legacy, then it's probably his inconsistency.
His capability to produce runs under pressure for South Africa is perhaps second to none, but where he could improve upon is his ability to produce big daddy hundreds. Interestingly, his personal best Test score has come up versus Australia, the dogged 152.
But on the whole, he too, awaits a personal milestone. Should he score 153 runs in this particular Lord's-bound game, he'll reach 3000 Test runs.
So will that happen courtesy a big inning for one will be required.
Keshav Maharaj
A world class slow left arm orthodox spinner, someone with 198 Test wickets and also with 11 five-wicket-hauls from 96 Test outings as a bowler, needs just 2 more wickets for the magnificent 200 wicket tally in five day cricket.
A cricketer of immense durability and focus, Maharaj can certainly make it this time around. Or will he?
Usman Khawaja
A veteran of batting and someone who plays a great role of a specialist Test match batter, Usman Khawaja too, finds himself on the cusp of a very vital record in Test cricket.
The brilliant and focused right hander is just 70 runs shy, just 70, from his 6000-run match tally in international Test match cricket.
Will he get there? Here's another interesting stat- he also needs to hit 10 more boundaries against South Africa to register his 100th four vs the brilliant side. He currently enjoys a batting average just north of 40 versus the Proteas.
