ICC World Test Championship Final 2025: How they qualified
South Africa will make their first appearance in the ICC World Test Championship Final at Lord's when they take on reigning champions Australia.
The Proteas were first to secure their place in the showpiece event, with Australia then joining them in what will be the holders' second consecutive final.
This is how they did it:
South Africa break new ground
South Africa hit the ground running with an innings victory over India at Centurion in December 2023, although they ended up splitting the series as India won a low-scoring second Test in Cape Town.
Following a 2-0 series defeat in New Zealand, the Proteas' hopes were helped by a 1-0 series victory in the West Indies, Keshav Maharaj the hero with 13 wickets over the two Tests in the Caribbean.
From there, South Africa did not look back. A 2-0 series victory in Bangladesh featured a star turn from Tony de Zorzi, who scored a superb 177 in Chittagong as one of three first-time Test centurions alongside Wiaan Mulder and Tristan Stubbs, before Temba Bavuma shone in a home series win over Sri Lanka by the same scoreline.
They rounded out their campaign by beating Pakistan in two Tests on home soil either side of the new year, Ryan Rickelton shining in the second of those with a double century in a 10-wicket success that clinched a top-two spot.
Australia back to defend their crown
The reigning champions kicked off the cycle with a drawn 2-2 Ashes series in England, although they would have hoped for an even better outcome after winning the first two Tests.
A 3-0 whitewash against Pakistan was followed by a 1-1 draw at home to the West Indies, Shamar Joseph taking seven for 68 in the second innings in Brisbane as the Windies prevailed by eight runs and won a Test in Australia for the first time since 1997.
By beating the BLACKCAPS 2-0 in New Zealand, Australia kept their fate in their own hands ahead of a five-Test series against India.
A defeat in Perth piled on the pressure but Australia responded with three wins in the next four Tests to take the series 3-1, Scott Boland delivering a masterclass in the final Test at the SCG to clinch his side's spot in the World Test Championship Final.
They closed out the cycle with a 2-0 win over Sri Lanka, finishing on a points percentage of 67.54, good enough for second behind South Africa's 69.44, with previous finalists India in third on exactly 50 percent.
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