SYDNEY, Jan 6, 2025 (V7N) - Fresh off a historic series win against India, Australia captain Pat Cummins has set his sights on defending their World Test Championship (WTC) title in the upcoming final against South Africa at Lord’s in June.

Australia's six-wicket victory in the fifth Test in Sydney sealed their first Border-Gavaskar Trophy win in a decade and confirmed their place in the WTC final, a marquee event that determines the world’s most consistent red-ball team.

“To hold the Border-Gavaskar Trophy is an amazing feeling, and the extra layer is now securing a spot again in the World Test Championship final, which was always a huge goal for us in this cycle,” Cummins said.

He emphasized the significance of the WTC: “It’s a trophy we’re really proud to hold, so we want to go back and defend it. I think it’s a great tournament because you need to perform consistently across different conditions and against varied teams.”

South Africa earned their place in the final under the WTC’s average points system, following a dramatic two-wicket win over Pakistan at Centurion last month.

Challenges Ahead

Australia will play two Tests in Sri Lanka later this month, but Cummins is expected to skip the tour for the birth of his second child. Vice-captain Steve Smith is likely to step in as skipper.

Despite the potential break, Cummins remains committed to his leadership role. “I absolutely love what I do. That’s the biggest driver in wanting to play Test cricket and lead this team. If I can keep doing it for a while, even better,” he said.

Record Spectatorship

Cricket Australia revealed nearly 838,000 spectators attended the Border-Gavaskar series, with a record 373,691 fans turning out for the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne, which spanned all five days.

The WTC final, set for June at Lord’s, promises to be a showdown between two red-ball heavyweights, with Australia eyeing back-to-back titles.

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