AUS vs SA: Australia Create Embarrassing Record With Batting Collapse in WTC 2025 Final
Australia were bowled out for just 212 on Day 1 of the WTC 2025 Final, recording the lowest-ever first innings total in WTC Final history.
Australia had a nightmare start to the World Test Championship (WTC) 2025 Final against South Africa at Lord’s in London on Wednesday, June 11.
Batting first in the all-important final, the defending champions were bowled out for just 212 runs, registering the lowest first-innings total in the history of WTC finals.
Rabada, Jansen wreck Australia’s batting line-up
South Africa’s pace duo of Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen made life difficult for the Australian batters. Rabada finished with excellent figures of 5 for 51, while Jansen claimed 3 for 49, removing some big names including Marnus Labuschagne and Travis Head.
Australia’s innings folded in just 56.4 overs, which is even worse than India’s 217 from 92.1 overs in the 2021 WTC Final. With this, Australia now hold the record for the lowest first innings total in a WTC final.
Smith and Webster fight, but no support
Only Steve Smith and Beau Webster showed some resistance. Both scored fighting half-centuries, but got very little support from the rest of the batting line-up.
The new opening pair Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne could only manage 12 runs together before Khawaja was dismissed for a 20-ball duck by Rabada.
Middle-order batters Cameron Green, Travis Head, and Alex Carey also failed to get going on a helpful pitch for the seamers.
With the batters falling one after another, Australia’s innings ended just after Tea on Day 1, handing South Africa the early advantage in this high-stakes final.
Australia will now have to rely on their bowlers to make a comeback in the match and stop South Africa from taking a big lead.
