With the World Test Championship Final just around the corner, the cricket world is eagerly waiting for the marquee clash between South Africa and Australia.
The much-anticipated final will begin on June 11 at Lord’s where both teams will be battling for the WTC mace.
While South Africa is chasing its first ICC title in more than two decades, Australia are coming in as defending champions. The Aussies lifted the WTC trophy last year after beating India.
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Amid the buzz, former Australian player and coach Tom Moody has weighed in on who he thinks holds the advantage and he’s clearly backing his country.
WTC Final 2025: Tom Moody believes Australia will win
According to Moody, Australia has always shown up when it matters most. He says the team knows how to raise their game during ICC tournaments and that experience helps them deal with pressure better than most teams.
"The Australians have built that reputation through consistent success in major tournaments. When it comes to ICC events, Australia somehow elevates its game to another level as a team," said Moody.
"They genuinely embrace the challenges of tournament cricket and thrive under the pressure of these high-stakes matches," he added.
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Moody further said that most Australian players have been part of big tournament wins in the past. That history of success creates a strong mindset.
“Historically, many of their players have won multiple ICC tournaments, and they’ve grown up watching previous generations achieve the same success. That winning mentality is ingrained in them,” said Moody.
Tom Moody on challenges of playing in England
Moody also mentioned that playing in England won’t be easy, as neither team has played Test cricket in the recent past. He felt that the players must trust their instincts and block out any negative thoughts about unfamiliar conditions.
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"It can be difficult, but it’s like any big occasion, it’s like any final, it’s bringing the best version of yourself to the stage at that very moment," Moody said.
"So, you need to trust your instincts and make sure that you sort of cut out the negativity of the fact that you haven’t played Test cricket for several months, or you’re suddenly turning up in England and you’ve got completely different conditions," he added.
According to Moody, adapting quickly is what makes Test cricket so special. He added that Australia might have the edge because they have handled more high-pressure games than South Africa in recent years.
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"That’s the nature of Test cricket, and that’s the beauty of Test cricket, being able to adapt and evolve on the move to be able to respond when you need to. I think Australia has got a slight advantage purely because they’ve played more big matches than South Africa have over recent years,” he concluded.