Lord’s, England – In a disappointing turn of events for Australia, star batsman Steve Smith has etched his name in an unwanted piece of cricketing history following their five-wicket loss to South Africa in the ICC World Test Championship Final at Lord’s. Smith has become the first and only Australian cricketer to feature in two ICC final defeats.
A Rare Disappointment for a Champion
While Australia boasts an unparalleled record in ICC finals across formats, this recent defeat marks a significant and rare disappointment for Steve Smith. The prolific batter had previously experienced an ICC final loss in the 2010 T20 World Cup against England in Barbados. Fifteen years later, as a senior statesman of the Australian team, Smith was hoping to add another ICC title to his glittering resume. However, South Africa’s historic victory, ending their 27-year trophy drought, denied him that opportunity.
The 2025 WTC Final: A Match to Forget for Australia
The World Test Championship final saw South Africa chase down a target of 282, securing their first major global title in 27 years. For Australia, it was a match where several elements went awry.
Smith’s Performance and Injury
In the first innings, Steve Smith showed glimpses of his class, scoring a fighting half-century (66 runs off 112 balls). However, his impact in the second innings was limited, as he managed only 13 runs off 25 balls. Furthermore, Smith suffered a compound dislocation of his right little finger while fielding in the slip cordon on Day 3 and was taken to hospital for assessment, an incident that added to Australia’s woes. The dropped catch of Temba Bavuma due to his injury proved costly.
Australia’s Unwanted Records Pile Up
Beyond Smith’s individual record, the WTC Final also saw Australia register their lowest first-innings total in the history of WTC finals, folding for just 212. South Africa’s pace attack, led by Kagiso Rabada’s five-wicket haul, proved too potent for the Australian batting line-up.
In 2010, a then 20-year-old leg-spinning all-rounder Steve Smith had a limited role in Australia’s T20 World Cup campaign as they fell short against an England side inspired by Kevin Pietersen. That defeat, combined with the recent WTC Final loss, now places Smith in a unique and unwanted position in Australian cricket history.
