WTC Final: Nathan Lyon counting on Australia big game experience against South Africa

Australia spinner Nathan Lyon is confident that his team's wealth of big-match experience will be crucial in the World Test Championship final against South Africa. The match promises a thrilling contest with South Africa aiming for their first ICC red-ball title under challenging English conditions.

In Short

• Nathan Lyon has taken 66 wickets in the 2023-25 WTC cycle
• Australia are defending WTC champions
• South Africa seeks first-ever ICC red-ball title in WTC final

Australia spinner Nathan Lyon is banking on his team's wealth of big-match experience as they prepare to face South Africa in the final of the World Test Championship (WTC) 2025. The highly anticipated summit clash begins on June 11, with South Africa eyeing their first-ever ICC title in red-ball cricket.

Lyon, who has been in outstanding form throughout the WTC 2023–25 cycle, has taken 66 wickets in 16 matches at an impressive average of 24 — the most by any spinner in the cycle. While acknowledging the strength of South Africa's batting line-up, Lyon believes Australia's experience in high-pressure games could prove decisive.

Australia enter the final not only as defending WTC champions, but also as a team loaded with players who have won the 2021 T20 World Cup and the 2023 ODI World Cup.

“Having the experience of the guys who have won two (50-over) World Cups and T20 World Cups, and obviously the World Test Championship final a couple of years ago — that experience and that pressure in those big games, it’s on our side, isn’t it? But it doesn’t mean anything when you come to the game,” Lyon told the ICC ahead of the final.

“South Africa have got some world-class batters, and they’ve obviously got some unbelievable bowlers as well, so it’s going to be a good challenge — and obviously, it’s a one-off Test match,” he added.

AB de Villiers on WTC Final: South Africa will beat Australia

While Australian bowlers are accustomed to the Kookaburra ball — which they used to beat India in the recent Border-Gavaskar Trophy — the WTC final will be played in England using the Dukes ball. Australia last used the Dukes during the 2024 Ashes, which ended in a 2-2 draw, allowing them to retain the urn.

“It’s going to be a different challenge with foreign conditions and the Dukes ball. It’s going to be the two best bowling attacks going at each other, which is another exciting thing. So, it’s going to be a good challenge for all batters,” Lyon concluded