As South Africa gears up for the World Test Championship final against Australia at Lord’s, former cricketer Jonty Rhodes has stated that the Proteas’ pace attack is unlikely to give them an edge over their Australian counterparts. While South Africa’s fast bowlers have been in formidable form, Rhodes believes that Australia is equally adept at handling pace, making it a closely contested match.
The summit clash of the 3rd edition of the World Test Championship is scheduled to take place from June 11 to 15, with June 16 set aside as a reserve day if necessary.
Speaking to PTI, Rhodes remarked, “I don’t think there is any advantage to South Africa. The Australians are skilled at playing pace bowling and have a strong pace attack themselves. South African batters will face this same challenge at Lord’s. So, I wouldn’t say we have an advantage. Australians have grown up facing pace and know all about it, but it’s going to be an exciting contest.”
South Africa’s journey to the WTC final has been propelled by their dominant performances, particularly on home soil, where their pace battery—led by Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen—has proven to be a match-winning force. Rabada has taken 37 wickets in 8 matches at an average of 19.8, while Jansen has claimed 29 wickets in 7 matches, with both players making significant contributions.
Beyond the WTC final, Rhodes believes that South African cricket is on the verge of a resurgence. “Success breeds success,” he said. “For a long time, South Africa sat in the middle of the ICC rankings, but now, with the success of the men’s and women’s teams, we’re seeing a renewed enthusiasm for the sport. The success of teams like the Indian men’s and women’s sides has led to greater popularity and support for the game. I hope South African cricket experiences a similar resurgence, driven by the Test team’s performances and tournaments like the SA20.”
Rhodes, also the fielding coach for the Lucknow Super Giants in the IPL, is optimistic about the future of cricket in South Africa.
