The ICC World Test Championship (WTC) Final 2025 between Australia and South Africa at Lord's has already produced some incredible performances and record-breaking feats. Kagiso Rabada and Mitchell Starc have been the stars of the show, eclipsing records previously held by Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami.
Kagiso Rabada's masterclass on the opening day saw him etch his name in the history books. The South African speedster dismantled the Australian batting lineup, finishing with a remarkable 5/51. This performance not only helped South Africa bowl out Australia for a modest 212 but also saw Rabada achieve several milestones. He surpassed Allan Donald to become South Africa's fourth-highest wicket-taker in Test history, now holding 332 wickets in 71 matches, exceeding Donald's 330 in 72 Tests. Rabada also became only the second bowler after New Zealand's Kyle Jamieson to take a five-wicket haul in a WTC Final. Furthermore, he joined Jacques Kallis as the only South Africans to achieve this in an ICC tournament final.
Rabada's brilliance extended to surpassing Jasprit Bumrah's world record. With his 50th Test wicket against Australia, Rabada now boasts the best strike rate (38) among bowlers with at least 50 wickets against the Aussies. Bumrah held the previous record with a strike rate of 39.9. Rabada's overall Test strike rate of 39.1 is also the best among bowlers with a minimum of 150 Test wickets.
Meanwhile, Mitchell Starc has also been rewriting records with his performance in the WTC Final. Starc broke Mohammed Shami's record to become the highest wicket-taker in ICC tournament finals. Starc now has 11 wickets in six ICC final innings, surpassing Shami's previous record of 10 wickets. Starc's wickets in the match also propelled him to 74 wickets in the 2023-2025 WTC cycle, tying him with Pat Cummins in second place, just behind Jasprit Bumrah's 77. Starc's achievement underscores his reputation as a big-match performer, consistently delivering when the stakes are highest. His record in ICC finals includes key performances in the 2015 ODI World Cup final, the 2023 WTC final, and the 2023 ODI World Cup final.
Starc also registered another exceptional record by taking the wicket of Aiden Markram in the first over of South Africa's innings. This was Starc's 19th first-over wicket in Test cricket since his debut in 2012, equaling James Anderson's record.
These record-breaking performances from Rabada and Starc have added extra excitement to the WTC Final. As the match progresses, it will be interesting to see if they can continue their impressive form and lead their respective teams to victory.
