Lord’s, June 2025 – The opening day of the ICC World Test Championship Final 2025 between South Africa and Australia saw Kagiso Rabada once again rise to the occasion. The South African pace spearhead delivered a scintillating five-wicket haul to help bowl out Australia for 212, keeping his side firmly in the contest—despite a wobbly finish with the bat.
Winning the toss, South Africa opted to bowl first, handing the new ball to Rabada. He didn’t disappoint. With pace, precision, and poise, Rabada tore through Australia’s top and middle order, removing Usman Khawaja, Cameron Green, Beau Webster, Pat Cummins, and Mitchell Starc in a fiery spell that showcased why he remains one of the finest fast bowlers of the modern era.
“212—we’d take that,” Rabada said in his post-day interview. “We thought we had a chance to get them for 160, but that’s the game. Still, a good position to be in.”
A Historic Milestone
Rabada’s 5/52 marked his 17th five-wicket haul in Test cricket, taking him past Allan Donald to become the fourth-highest wicket-taker in South African Test history.
“To be named among those greats is really special,” Rabada acknowledged. “I grew up watching those legends and dreaming of days like these. It’s an honour, and hopefully there’s much more to come.”
Tough Start With the Bat
However, South Africa’s day ended on a sour note, with the team slumping to 43/4 by stumps. Australia’s bowlers, led by Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins, found plenty of movement off the Lord’s surface under cloudy skies, putting the Proteas under immediate pressure.
“Not the start we were looking for,” Rabada admitted. “The ball’s been nipping around quite a bit, especially off the slope. But I still think it’s a pitch where you can get in if you apply yourself. We just need to stay disciplined and keep grinding. There’s a lot of cricket left in this match.”
Despite the early collapse, Rabada’s confident tone suggested the Proteas haven’t lost belief.
Day 2 Beckons
With both teams having landed significant blows on Day 1, the match is finely poised. South Africa will need a determined effort from their lower order and middle-order mainstays to recover, while Australia will look to capitalise and seize momentum.
