SA vs AUS, WTC Final 2025 Day 1 Live Score: Khawaja, Labuschagne Make Cautious Start
It's time. History will be made at the Lord's Cricket Ground with Australia and South Africa set to fight for the ICC World Test Championship from today. South Africa are a first-time finalist in this tournament and are eyeing to break their ICC title drought having last won a major trophy in 1998. Since then, it has been a story of heartbreaks for the South Africans and they would want to end the wait at the historic venue under the captaincy of Temba Bavuma.
On the other hand, Australia are playing in their second straight WTC final and are the defending champions too. Unlike their latest opponents, the Aussies are used to winning ICC titles and are well aware of what they need to do to get the job done. Will Pat Cummins-led side become the first team in WTC history to retain the title?
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Mint
4 minutes ago
- Mint
'Supermen from India': Sachin Tendulkar lauds Team Indias victory at The Oval
New Delhi [India], August 4 (ANI): India's legendary batter Sachin Tendulkar hailed Team India's exceptional performance in The Oval Test against England and labelled the Shubman Gill-led squad as "Supermen" from India. In an absolute humdinger of a contest, inspirational spells from Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna helped India draw the five-match series against England, denying the hosts a series win, beating them by six runs while defending 374 runs, in an absolute thriller at The Oval on Monday. With this win, the Shubman Gill-led Team India has started the new era with immense promise, drawing the series 2-2. Taking to X, Tendulkar wrote, "Test cricket... absolute goosebumps. Series 2-2, Performance 10/10! SUPERMEN from INDIA! What a Win." Siraj's inspirational spell during the fifth and final Test was perhaps the biggest reason why Team India left the England shores with their heads held high and the series scoreline. He took a total of 23 wickets in the series at an average of 32.43, with best figures of 6/70. In the final Test, he took a total of nine wickets, including a five-wicket haul in the second innings. While defending 374, India was in trouble with England at 301/3 at one point, but along with Prasidh Krishna, Siraj bowled relentlessly, pulling back the match ball by ball, wicket by wicket. India's T20I skipper Suryakumar Yadav hailed his team's victory, where he said, "What a solid show, boys! Love watching this team fight and finish strong till the very end." Former India skipper Ajinkya Rahane also shared his thoughts on Team India's memorable victory at The Oval. "Test cricket doesn't get better than this. Tense finish, pressure moments, and character on display. Well done @BCCI," Rahane said. Indian batter Cheteshwar Pujara called India's win over England at The Oval "historic". Historic win! Belief and character shown by the team was brilliant to see! Fitting end to what has been an incredible series. Nothing quite like Test Cricket!" Pujara wrote on X. Former India skipper Sourav Ganguly took to his social media handle and shared his views on the victory. "What a test match .. India will leave Lords very disappointed .. they played so well all 3 test matches. But down 2-1 ..it was a test match to be won.. Jadeja fought hard and showed 193 was not a big total .. @bcci @Teamindiacrick," Ganguly said. Former India spinner Anil Kumble congratulated the Indian team for winning The Oval Test. "Well played India!! What a series... #INDvsEND Well done to everyone involved from both teams. Stunning performance today by @mdsirajofficial and @prasidh43 to hold their nerves. Congratulations @ShubmanGill and the team for a great series!" Kumble wrote. Former South Africa seamer Dale Steyn shared after India's victory, where he said, "WE LOVE TEST CRICKET." Former England seamer Steven Finn congratulated both teams for playing such a brilliant series. "Oh my word. What a finish to an incredible test series. Well done to both teams. That was insane," Finn said. Coming to the match, after England opted to bowl first, they reduced India to 153/6. A 58-run partnership between Karun Nair (57 in 109 balls, with eight fours) and Washington Sundar (26 in 55 balls, with three fours) was the most meaningful part of the inning as India was bundled out for 224 runs. Apart from Gus Atkinson's five-wicket haul, Josh Tongue (3/57) was also good. In the second innings, four-fers from Siraj (4/86) and Prasidh Krishna (4/62) reduced England to 247, despite a 92-run opening stand between Zak Crawley (64 in 57 balls, with 14 fours) and Ben Duckett (43 in 38 balls, with five fours and two sixes) and a fifty by Harry Brook (53 in 64 balls, with five fours and a six). They led by 23 runs. In India's second innings, key contributions came from Yashasvi Jaiswal (118 in 164 balls, with 14 fours and two sixes), Akash Deep (66 in 94 balls, with 12 fours), Ravindra Jadeja (53 in 77 balls, with five fours) and Washington Sundar (53 in 46 balls, with four boundaries and four sixes). Sundar stitched a very crucial 10th wicket stand with Krishna, with the latter scoring nothing out of it and Sundar doing all the hitting. They all took India to 396 runs, giving them a 373-run lead and setting a target of 374 runs for England to win the series. India started well, reducing England to 106/3. However, fine centuries from Harry Brook (111 in 98 balls, with 14 fours and two sixes) and Joe Root (105 in 152 balls, with 12 fours) troubled India with a 195-run stand for the fourth wicket. At one point, England was 317/4 on day four. However, a late surge by Siraj (5/104) and Krishna (4/126) shifted the pressure to England, and they were left six runs short, bundled out for 367 runs. The series is drawn 2-2, reflecting the true nature of how well-fought the series was. The Shubman Gill era has started with immense promise and fight, giving signs of a bright future. (ANI)
Indian Express
34 minutes ago
- Indian Express
‘You go through this morning and England did panic..: Michael Vaughan on ENG losing the plot at Oval
With the England team suffering only their tenth defeat in 41 Tests under head coach Brendon McCullum since May 2022 with the six-run loss against India in the fifth and final Test at The Oval on Monday, it also meant that the England team only drew a series for the fourth time since 2022. With the hosts placed at 339 for 6 at the start of the fifth day's play, Indian pacers Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna made sure that the Shubman Gill led Indian team won the fifth Test by six runs and helped India to tie the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2-2. Former England captain Michael Vaughan shared how a fit Ben Stokes would have taken England home if he was playing and how he sees the final day's play as the England team panicking. 'This morning, Ben Stokes in that team, England would've won this Test match. He plays such a big role in this team, the mentality. You go through this morning and England did panic. They just needed one partnership. They panicked in the way that they can with the way that they play, they play with a huge amount of aggressiveness. Yesterday afternoon, the Harry Brook dismissal did cause that collapse, but it's the way England play,' Vaughan told BBC's Test Match Special. Prior to Brendon McCullum taking over as England head coach, England had just one win from their previous 17 Tests. The England team had won 23 out of the 36 Tests with McCullum as head coach since 2022 and had come into the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy with a win against Zimbabwe in the one-off Test in May. Prior to the final Test at The Oval, England captain Ben Stokes was ruled out of the series due to a torn shoulder with pacers Jofra Archer and Brydon Carse being rested for the final Test. With England set to play the Ashes against Australia in Australia later this year, Vaughan sees this series as a series helping the England team set more pieces in place. 'It's been a tremendous five matches for England. You've got to be realistic, this week they were down to 10 men, lost one of their bowlers early, and not got Ben Stokes. You're looking at the team going to Australia and I think there's more pieces in place. We'll arrive in Perth for that first Test and know the top seven. It's just a matter of the bowling attack and getting that right. Clearly Ben Stokes is going to have to get fit. With Ben Stokes in the England side they can beat anybody. Without him, they can lose to anybody,' Vaughan added. England were looking on course towards a historic win with Harry Brook and Joe Root taking England to 301 for 3 on the fourth day before Brook was caught by Mohammed Siraj off the bowling of Akash Deep. Prior to that, Brook had scored 118 runs off 98 balls and his dismissal meant that England lost two more wickets including Joe Root before the end of the day's play. Vaughan was of the view that Brook needs to dig in if a similar situation arises in the Ashes. '(Harry) Brook had that thought process that he wanted to hit 30 or 40 quick runs. What Harry needs to learn is in an Ashes series, in a similar situation, just win. I love the way he plays, his approach. At times, he's a genius. He plays the game in a fashion not many have ever played. I don't want to take away from his positivity and flamboyance. But in Sydney, if England are 2-1 up, dig in Harry,' Vaughan concluded.
Hindustan Times
34 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Sunil Gavaskar challenges past legacies, boldly rates India's Oval win against England with daring ‘bigger than…' claim
Batting great Sunil Gavaskar was all praise for Shubman Gill and Co. after their incredible win at the Oval, which helped India level the series 2-2. Mohammed Siraj ran riot with the old ball and made life difficult for the English batters, claiming a five-wicket haul to seal a 6-run win in the final Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. At the start of Day 5, England needed just 35 runs with four wickets in hand to complete a remarkable chase of 374. They lost Jamie Smith in the second over itself courtesy a brilliant outswinger from Siraj. It made things difficult for England with tailenders left exposed in front of Siraj and Prasidh Krishna, who were still making the old ball swing. Sunil Gavaskar made a bold claim after India's epic win at the Oval.(PTI) Krishna claimed the wicket of Josh Tongue with a toe-crushing yorker to assist Siraj from the other end. With England down to their final wicket, a courageous Chris Woakes walked out to bat one-handed due to a dislocated shoulder, earning a rousing ovation from the sold-out Oval crowd. Gus Atkinson tried to shield him from a strike, but couldn't hold off Siraj for long—bowled attempting a big shot as England were dismissed for 367. Legendary India batter Gavaskar was elated after India's epic triumph, which he called even bigger than the historic Test win over Australia at the Gabba, Brisbane, in 2021. "This win is bigger than Gabba," Sunil Gavaskar said as quoted on NDTV. The two matches hold big significance in India's cricket history as it was their first-ever Test win at the Gabba, that too in the absence of senior players like Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin. Ajinkya Rahane led the side in Kohli's absence as a makeshift captain as he and Shastri instilled a belief in the team to take on the mighty Aussies at their own den. Rishabh Pant and Shubman Gill rose to the occasion in the iconic 328-run chase and took the team over the line to breach Australia's fortress. Meanwhile, it was a bit similar when it came to the absence of senior players, with the recent retirements of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and R Ashwin, while Jasprit Bumrah also missed out due to workload management. With their backs against the wall, Siraj and Prasidh Krishna stepped up with the ball, delivering under pressure to script a memorable victory for India—one that will be remembered for years to come.
