Can Australia’s Bowling Coach Vettori Secure an Early Breakthrough Against South Africa in the WTC Final?

London, June 14 (NationPress) Australia’s bowling coach Daniel Vettori believes that the path to reclaiming dominance in the ICC World Test Championship Final 2025 hinges on dismantling the steadfast third-wicket partnership between Aiden Markram and Temba Bavuma.

After Day 3 at Lord’s, Vettori recognized the daunting task ahead for Australia, who are trailing by merely 69 runs but have only secured two wickets as the Proteas continue their march towards a significant Test title.

“We are acutely aware of our primary challenge; 8/70 is exceptionally challenging, and conditions may not be in our favor. However, given the state of the ball and the pitch, it presents a tough assignment,” Vettori expressed.

Despite Australia’s slender advantage at 70/2 during the second session on Friday, Markram and Bavuma displayed remarkable poise and skill, crafting a 143-run partnership that now casts a long shadow over the match.

Vettori noted that the pitch conditions also contributed to South Africa’s resurgence: “The surface is slow, and throughout the game, the boundaries have been less than what we typically expect from previous Test matches here. Scoring runs has proven difficult, but South Africa capitalized on these favorable conditions.”

He commended the duo’s performance: “An exceptional partnership. They navigated challenging moments and successfully applied pressure back on us through their running and field dissection. It was a masterclass from those two.”

Reflecting on past comebacks, including the Edgbaston Ashes Test and the thrilling 2023 World Cup match against Afghanistan, Vettori highlighted the team’s resilience: “This is a challenge that the group has faced at various points over the last few years.”

On discussing bowling variations, Vettori revealed a cautious approach: “There’s often a desire for that, but there’s a risk of the score escalating quickly. When opting for short balls, controlling the scoreboard becomes tricky. We believed if we could maintain our lines, something would eventually happen, but it didn’t materialize.”

While South Africa has a history of close calls in ICC tournaments, Vettori refrained from drawing parallels. “It’s always challenging to label teams, as they evolve… it’s tough to categorize a group that hasn’t experienced this scenario in a World Test Championship Final.”

As Day 4 approaches, Vettori remains optimistic: “Our hope is to secure a wicket or two in the morning and assess the situation from there. That’s our main challenge.”

The final day promises to be thrilling at Lord’s, with Australia relying on early breakthroughs to thwart South Africa's quest for long-awaited glory.