The points table ICC World Test Championship 2023-25 currently looks a lot clearer after India lost the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 to Australia. The leaderboard of the WTC table is determined through Percentage System (PC?T) points.

South Africa vs Australia showdown at the Lord’s

As Australia clinched a historic win in the SCG Test to secure the Border-Gavaskar Trophy after 10 years, the two teams for the coveted ICC WTC finals are now decided. South Africa currently sits at the top of the table with 66.670 points. The Proteas managed to secure 7 wins and 3 draws in th??e current cycle with a total of 11 matches they have played. The only match the South Africans lost in the cycle till now was against India in the Freedom Trophy back in January 2024. The South African team is currently playing a 2-match Test series against Pakistan on their home soil.

The road to finals for the Aussies has not been as smooth as the Proteas, but the Australian team proved their mettle and earned their spot the hard way during the course of the cycle. The Australians managed to draw the 2023 Ashes against England and the Frank Worrell Trophy against the West Indies. However, the Australian team gained important points for the WTC cycle by a clean sweep in the Benaud-Qadir Trophy against Pakistan and Trans-Tasman Trophy against New Zealand. The Australian critically needed to win the Border-Gavaskar Trophy to reach the WTC finals and the former champions managed to do just that by defeating India 3-1 in the series. Australia are yet to play Sri Lanka in the current cycle.

Not?ably, the two finalists, South Africa and Australia have not played against each other in the current WTC cycle.

Also Read: AUS vs IND: Jasprit Bumrah breaks silence on? his injury and India’s performance in BGT 2024-25

India gets the third place in the current WTC cycle

The stark decline of the Indian team in the l?ongest format of the game is evident not just with their performance in the recent series loss against Australia, but also from the fact that India, the two-time WTC runner-up has failed to reach the finals of the prestigious title and could only get the No.3 in the league table.

India had played all its matches in the current cycle and with 9 wins and 8 losses only managed to garner 50 PCT points. A clean-sweep against New Zealand and the recent 3-1 defeat in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy had hurt the Indian prospects of going to the WTC finals the most. The Kiwis are behind India in the league table with 48.210 PCT points followed by Sri Lanka, England, Bangladesh, Pakistan and West Indies.

The 2025-27 cycle of the World Test Championship is set to begin in June this year as England take on India for a?? 5-match Test series on their home soil.

Also Read: Fans furious at Gautam Gambhir as Australia seals a historic Test win again??st India in Sydney

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In the aftermath of South Africa’s semifinal exit in the ODI World Cup 2023 against Australia, the Proteas head coach Rob Walter has vehemently dismissed the notion that his team “choked” under pressure.

The highly anticipated encounter between South Africa and Australia ended with the Proteas failing to defend their set total of 212. Despite a strong performance throughout the tournament, South Africa’s defeat sparked discussions about the team’s ability to handle high-pressure situations, with some fans and experts using the term “choked” to describe their semifinal performance.

Rob Walter brushes aside the ‘chokers’ narrative

Rob Walter, however, addressed the media in a post-match press conference, firmly rejecting the ‘choked’ narrative. Walter stated, “I guess you need to define what a choke is. For me, a choke is losing a game that you’re in a position to win. In this instance, we were behind the eight ball right from the word go and we actually fought our way back into the competition and put up a score that gave us a chance and then again they got off to a flyer and we fought and we put ourselves back into the game.”

Walter went on to analyze the match, acknowledging that both teams played exceptionally well on the? day, and South Africa fell short in crucial moments. He emphasized the need to appreciate ??the dynamics of each game and the various factors that contribute to outcomes in cricket.

“So for me there’s nothing even remotely close to a choke that happened out there today. It’s a serious contest between two good teams, number two and three in the tournament. Today, I don’t think anyone could watch and say it wasn’t through lack of effort,” Walter added.

Also READ: Twitter reactions – Australia knock South Africa out; to take India in the ODI World Cup 2023 final

Walter defends Temba Bavuma

The Proteas coach also defended South Africa captain Temba Bavuma, who got out for ??a duck after facing 4 balls, suggesting that his on-field presence and leadership were worth gambling for despite him not being 100% fit.

“From a batting point of view, we were confident that he [Bavuma] would be able to go bat properly, run between wickets properly but he was sort of weighing that up with having him on the field present as the captain. And for me that trumps it every day, having his leadership and his presence on the field is everything.

“We spoke about it, he said I’m not 100 per cent but I can definitely play and I want to be on the park,” Walter added further.

As the cricketing community reflects on South Africa’s ODI World Cup 2023 campaign, coach Walter’s measured response serves as a reminder that success and setbacks are inherent in the sport, and labelling a team as having “choked” oversimplifies the complexities of cricket at the highest level. The Proteas will now shift their focus to upcoming challenges with a renewed determination to achieve greatness on the international stage.

Also READ: South Africa ca??ptain Temba Bavu??ma bids farewell to retiring Quinton de Kock

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Quinton de Kock, the dynamic South African wicket-keeper-batter, has hanged his boots from the One-Day Internationals (ODIs). The decision was made despite having him an impressive ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, where he smashed four centuries – the most by a Proteas player. He amassed a total of 594 runs in 10 matches, finishing as the second highest run-scorer in the tournament.

Quinton de Kock’s retirement decision

De Kock had previously declared his intention to retire after the conclusion of the World Cup, and with South Africa’s campaign coming to an end with a 3-wicket defeat against Australia in the second se??mifinal on Thursday, the southpaw officially called time to his stunning ODI career. Over the course of t?ime, De Kock amassed 6770 runs in 155 ODI matches, leaving an indelible mark on South African cricket.

Known for his aggressive batting style, De Kock registered 21 centuries and 30 fifties in the 50-overs format, showcasing his ability to dominate the opposition. His retirement marks the end of an era, and he will be remembered as one of the legends of the game in th?e Rainbow Na?tion.

Also READ: Masaba Gupta lashes out at Ramiz Raja for laughing at ra??cist remarks against her parents Viv Ri??chard and Neena Gupta

‘He will go down as one of the legends of the game in South Africa’: Temba Bavuma

After losing to Australia in the knockout clash, South Africa captain Temba Bavuma paid a heartfelt tribute to De Kock, acknowledging his significant contributio??ns t?o the team.

Bavuma expressed gratitude for the time spent playing alongside De Kock, emphasizing the retiring cricketer’s enjoyment in every aspect of his journey in the dressing room. While De Kock may not have achieved his dream of winning the World Cup, his impact on South African cricket remains profound, admitted Bavuma.

“We enjoyed playing with Quinton de Kock. He will go down as one of the legends of the game in South Africa. He would have wanted to win the World Cup but unfortunately it didn’t happen. Quinton enjoyed every bit of his time in the dressing room,” Bavuma said at the post-match presentation.

Also READ: Gautam Gambhir names Team India’s game changer in ODI World Cup 2023

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In the highly anticipated second semi?-f?inal of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 at Kolkata’s Eden Gardens, South Africa and Australia clashed in a battle for a spot in the final.

South Africa Innings

Opting to bat after winning the toss, South Africa faced early setbacks with Quinton de Kock and Temba Bavuma departing quickly. Rassie van der Dussen struggled to find his rhythm, contributing only 6 runs. However, Heinrich Klaasen and David Miller steadied the ship with a valuable partnership. Miller, in particular, played a stellar knock, notching up an impressive century, scoring 101 runs off 116 deliveries. The lower order added some crucial runs, but Australia’s bowling attack, led by Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins, managed to restrict South Afri??ca to a total of 212?? in 49.4 overs.

Australia Innings

In pursuit of the target, Australia faced early challenges as South African bowlers struck at regular intervals. Travis Head emerged as the standout performer for Australia, showcasing a brilliant innings of 62 runs off 48 deliveries. Despite wickets falling at the other end, Head’s composed knock guided Australia towards the target. Contributions from David Warner, Steve Smith and Josh Inglis sup?ported the c?hase. In the end, Australia secured a hard-fought victory, reaching 215/7 in 47.2 overs.

Man of the Match

Travis Head’s exceptional batting performance earned him the well-deserved Player of the Match award.

With this win, Australia booked their place in the final of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, setting the stage ??for a thrilling showdown against India on Sunday, November 19.

Here’s how Twitter reacted:

Both teams displaying vulnerabilities. By just waiting, Australia are becomi??ng susceptible to a good ball

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) November 16, 2023

Good game that .. great effort by the lads �

— Herschelle Gibbs (@hershybru) November 16, 2023

Bad luck #SouthAfrica feel for you guys ! Have to give to the Aussies , something about them in big games ! Keeping the composure under pressure . Onto the big finals #indiavsaus ! India clearly the favourites but hopefully it’s a cracker of a final !! And of course we 🇮🇳�/p>

— Yuvraj Singh (@YUVSTRONG12) November 16, 2023

8th World Cup Final for the Australian team, a remarkable record.
Sunday’s final will be the toughest of them all. #WorldcupFinal #INDvAUS

— Tom Moody (@TomMoodyCricket) November 16, 2023

Serious innings @DavidMillerSA12 !!! One of the best of the tournament under huge pressure �#CWC2023

— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) November 16, 2023

And then there were two 🇮🇳 🇦🇺

Presenting the #CWC23 finalists 🤩 pic.twitter.com/vv0L57egeY

— ICC (@ICC) November 16, 2023

The all-round brilli??ance of Travis Head saw Australia home at the Eden Gardens 👊

It helps him win the @aramco #POTM 👌#CWC23 | #SAvAUS pic.twitter.com/oWzaDSlXjX

— ICC Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) November 16, 2023

Australia becomes the second team to qualify for the ODI World Cup 2023 final#SAvsAUS #ODIWorldCup2023 #CWC23 #cricket #Australia #CricketTwitter pic.twitter.com/prM3rIx9T6

— betvisa68.com (@CricketTimesHQ) November 16, 2023

SA dropped crucial catches. One of the best fielding units have let themselves down in the big match. Same thing happened in 2015 WC SF too #SAvAUS

— Sarang Bhalerao (@bhaleraosarang) November 16, 2023

Australia will be facing india in the finals

— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) November 16, 2023

Heartbroken South African team. 💔 pic.twitter.com/khlD7PXI3V

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) November 16, 2023

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In a captivating semi-final clash of the ongoing ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, Temba Bavuma’s South Africa are set to face the five-time world champions Australia, captained by Pat Cummins, at the iconic Eden Gardens on Thursday, November 1?6.

Secu?ring the second position in the league stage, South Africa displayed an impressive performance, winning 7 out of the 9 matches played in the league. The Proteas accumulated 14 points with a net run rate (NRR) of (+) 1.261.

Australia, positione??d third, shares the same points as South Africa but holds a slightly lower NRR of (+) 0.841. However, in this knockout semi-final, the NRR will only come into consideration if the match is abandoned. In such a scenario, the team with the superior NRR would advance to the final.

SA vs AUS Head-to-head record (in ODI World Cups):

Matches played: 07 | Australia won: 03 | South Africa won: 03 | Tied: 01

SA vs AUS, Semifinal 2: ODI World Cup 2023

• Date and time: November 16, 2023; 08:30 am GMT/02:00 pm IST
• Venue: Eden Gardens, Kolkata

Also READ: ODI World Cup 2023 – Meet the wives and girlfriends of South African cricketers

SA vs AUS Broadcast & Live Streaming details:

• Australia: Fox Sports; Kayo, Foxtel Now, Foxtel App
• South Africa & Sub-Saharan Africa: SuperSport; GOtv and DsTV
• India: Star Sports 1, Star Sports 2; Disney+Hotstar
• Afghanistan: RTA; Moby TV
• Bangladesh: GTV, T Sports and BTV National; Rabbitholebd.com, Rabbitholebd YouTube Channel & Rabbithole app
• Pakistan: PTV Sports and A sports; PTV app, ARY app and website
• Netherlands: ICC.tv
• England: Sky Sports; Sky Go
• New Zealand: Sky Sports NZ; Sky Sports Now
• United States: Sling TV – Willow TV (Sign up here); ESPN+ (Sign up here); Hulu + Live, AT and T TV, fuboTV
• Canada: Willow TV Canada; Hotstar Canada, ICC.tv
• UAE: ICC.tv
• Caribbean Islands: ESPN Caribbean; ESPN app and ICC.tv
• Singapore: Singtel; YuppTV/Hotstar
• Sri Lanka: Siyatha, Eye Channel and Star Sports; Channel Eye’s mobile app and website
• Europe and South East Asia: YuppTV
• Hong Kong: Now TV; Yupp TV
• Malaysia: Astro; Yupp TV, Astro Cricket via Singtel
• Pacific Islands: Digicel; Digicel app and wesite
• Middle East & North Africa (MENA) Countries: Etisalat, Starzplay; CricLife, Switch TV & StarzPlay

Also READ: ODI World Cup 2023 – Meet the wives and girlfriends of Australian cricketers

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As the ODI World Cup 2023 approaches its thrilling semifinals phase, the anticipation surges as the top four teams gear up to clash, each vying for a coveted spot in the tournament’s grand finale.

Amid this escalating excitement, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has unveiled the esteemed panel of match officials to oversee these crucial encounters. The recent development further solidifies the ?gravity of the upcoming? matches, ensuring a fair and meticulously managed stage for the pinnacle of cricketing battles.

Match officials for semifinal 1

In the upcoming high-stakes first semifinal between India and New Zealand on Wednesday (November 15), scheduled to be played at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, the stage is set with a formidable?? lineup of match officials entrusted to ensure the integrity and precision of this critical encounter.

The on-field responsibilities will be shouldered by the seasoned duo of Richard Illingworth and Rod Tucker, while Joel Wilson takes charge as the third umpire, and Adrian Holdstock stands as the fourth umpire. The experienced Match Referee, Andy Pycroft, will oversee the match’s conduct.

Also READ – ODI World Cup 2023 Semifinals: Dat??e, Match Time, Venue & Live Streaming Details

Match officials for semifinal 2

The second semifinal showdown between the five-time World Champions Australia and South Africa, set to be played on Thursday (November 16) at the famous Eden Gardens in Kolkata, promises an intense b?attle meticulously overseen by a s?killed panel.

The adept pair of Richard Kettleborough and Nitin Menon will lead the on-field duties, supported by the astute eye of Chris Gaffaney as the third umpire and Michael Gough as the fourth umpire. Adding authority and experience to the proceedings is the Match Referee, former Indian cricketer Javagal Srinath.

The ODI World Cup 2023 final will be played be??tween the semifinal winners at the grand Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday (November 19).

Also READ – From Virat Kohli to Adam Zampa: Be??st playing XI of the ODI World Cup 2023

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As the excitement builds towards the much awaited ODI World Cup 2023 final, former Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan has shared his predictions on the teams that he belie?ves will make it to the pinnacle ?clash of the tournament.

The league stage of the CWC 2023 concluded on Sunday (November 12) with hosts India thrashing the Netherlands by 160 runs.

The grand finale of ODI World Cup 2023

The grand finale of the ODI World Cup 2023 is poised to take place at the illustrious Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on November 19. Acknowledged as the world’s largest cricket stadium, this iconic venue boasts an impressive seating capacity of 135,000, ensuring not only a cricket spectacle but an indelible experience.

Irfan Pathan’s prediction for the final

While commentating for Star Sports India, Pathan delved into the performances and strategies of the top four teams in the points table, ultimately revealing the two contenders he ?envisions battling it out in the final.

Team India:

Pathan expressed confidence in the Indian cricket team, led by Rohit Sharma, hailing their dominant run throughout the tournament. India’s impeccable performance in the league stage has solidified their status as one of the favourites to lift the coveted trophy. Pathan highlighted the team’s balanced combination of experienced players and young talents, emphasizing their ability to handle pressure situations.

Also READ: IND vs NED – KL Rahul hits the fastest century by an Indian in ODI World Cup history

South Africa:

Pathan’s second pick for the ODI World Cup 2023 final is the South African cricket team, led by skipper Temba Bavuma. The Proteas showcased their prowess in the league stage, securing victories against formidable opponents. Pathan acknowledged South Africa’s consistent performances, particularly praising their strong batting line-up and agile fielding. He believes their resilience and strategic gameplay make them strong contenders for the championship title.

With both teams displaying exceptional skills and determination, Pathan’s predictions add an extra layer of anticipation to the tournament’s climax. Cricket enthusiasts around the world are eager to witness if his foresight proves accurate as the ODI World Cup 2023 reaches its pinnacle, promising cricket fans a thrilling final showdown between two formidable teams.

Also READ: S??outh Africa legend Hashim Amla predicts the two finalists of ODI World Cup 2023

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Five-time World Cup champions Australia experienced a historic loss as South Africa clinched a resounding 134-run victory in Match 10 of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 at Ekana Cricket Stadium on Thursday.

The match saw a controversy during Australia’s innings, when all-rounder Marcus Stoinis was left disheartened and in utter disbelief as he had to return to the??? pavilion following his dismissal.

Stoinis’ argumentative dismissal

While chasing South Africa’s total of 311, Australia found themselves struggling at 70/5. In a crucial moment,  Stoinis gloved a delivery from Kagiso Rabada angling down the leg side, and Quinton De Kock made a spectacular diving catch. Initially ruled not out by on-field umpire Joel Wilson, South Africa’s captain, Temba Bavuma, referred the decision to the third umpire.

Stoinis began to walk off the field before the replay confirmed the contact with his right glove. Third umpire Richard Kettleborough believed that the right-handed batter’s hand was connected to the top hand holding the bat despite a split-screen replay showing a gap between the gloves. The decision remained unchanged after a lengthy discussion with Wilson and the fourth umpire, Chris Brown. This judgment stirred up cont??roversy and d??ebate among avid cricket fans and experts alike.

Here is the video:

Also WATCH: World Cup 2023 – Steve Smith shocked after being given out LBW from a strange review process â€?AUS vs SA

South Africa’s batting domination

Earlier in the game, Australia won the toss and chose to field, inviting Proteas to first. De Kock, who scored 109 runs off 106 balls, made a formidable start with Bavuma, forging a robust 108-run partnership. However, in the 20th over, Australia broke this partnership by dismissing Bavuma, who had contributed 35 runs off 55 balls, with the wicket taken by Glenn Maxwell.

Aiden Markram added 56 runs off 44 balls and partnered with Heinrich Klaasen (29 off 27) for a 66-run stand. David Miller managed 17 runs off 13 balls, and Marco Jansen contributed 26 runs off 22 ba??lls in the final overs, helping South Africa reach the 300-run mark and leading their side to a respective total of 311/7 in 50 overs.

Maxwell (10-1-34-2) and Mitchell Starc (9-1-53-2) bowled impressively, while skipper Pat Cummins, Adam Zampa, and Josh Hazlewood each claimed a wicket for Australia.

Also READ: World Cup 2023 – Kagiso Rabada opens up on controversial dismissals of Steve Smith and Marcus Stoinis in SA vs AUS clash

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