Sanjay Bangar, the former India all-rounder who also served as their batting coach, believes if Australia retains its WTC title, it would be a testament to their players\u2019 skill, meticulous planning and dedication towards becoming the world\u2019s best men\u2019s Test team.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cIt would be very significant because see this is a format which has been designed quite thoughtfully as well and there's never a format which is nearly perfect. But at least I think what with the World Test Championship happens is that there is relevance for each and every Test match.\"<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cFor most teams, because in earlier times, you sort of knew midway through the season - like earlier the Test championship was based on the points and who was going to be number one at the end of each year. At times you felt that okay the relevance for each and every Test match wasn't there from progressing ahead point of view,\" said Bangar, a JioStar expert, to IANS in a virtual interaction on Tuesday.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cSo Australia would be very pleased because to win across all conditions and reaching the finals is indeed a very big achievement. It only goes on to show the kind of planning and the kind of importance that Cricket Australia also gives to these ICC events because they generally pace their players in that particular fashion.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cSo if they have done that for four years that itself speaks a lot not only about the players, but also about the careful planning that may have gone through behind that,\u201d he added.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
As compared to Australia being the serial champions, South Africa are still searching for a major championship win. The Proteas have been in the knockouts of ICC events since 2023, but have endured the \u2018so close, yet so far\u2019 story in both men\u2019s and women\u2019s tournaments.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The key to South Africa\u2019s success in the 2025 WTC final, according to Bangar, lies in how their top three batters \u2013 skipper Temba Bavuma, Aiden Markram, and Ryan Rickleton \u2013 handle the threat posed by Australia\u2019s skillful left-arm fast-bowler, Mitchell Starc.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cThe key match-up would be the left-arm, Mitchell Starc, bowling to the top-order of South Africa there, Temba Bavuma or even for that matter (Aiden) Markram, like how they can take the team beyond the new ball phase. If they can play through the new ball phase, then the match could get evenly balanced in that sense.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The key to South Africa\u2019s success in the 2025 WTC final, according to Bangar, lies in how their top three batters \u2013 skipper Temba Bavuma, Aiden Markram, and Ryan Rickleton \u2013 handle the threat posed by Australia\u2019s skillful left-arm fast-bowler, Mitchell Starc.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Also Read: <\/b> LIVE Cricket Score<\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n