South Africa has announced a strong playing XI for the upcoming World Test Championship Final against Australia, marking their first appearance in the tournament. The team, led by Captain Temba Bavuma, boasts a well-balanced squad with depth in both batting and bowling.

Opening the batting order is Ryan Rickelton, the top run-scorer for South Africa in the WTC 2023-25 cycle, alongside Bavuma, Aiden Markram, and Tristan Stubbs. A notable selection is Wiaan Mulder at No. 3, a young player who has shown promise in recent Tests against Sri Lanka and Pakistan.

Speaking about Mulder, Bavuma emphasized the importance of giving him confidence and backing his abilities. The team's bowling attack includes Kagiso Rabada, Marco Jansen, and Lungi Ngidi, with Keshav Maharaj as the sole specialist spinner. Dane Paterson, who performed well in the previous series against Pakistan, has been left out in favor of Ngidi due to tactical reasons and Ngidi's pace and experience.

The final playing XI for South Africa is: Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton, Wiaan Mulder, Temba Bavuma (c), Tristan Stubbs, David Bedingham, Kyle Verreynne (wk), Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi.