Australia's champion pedigree face SA's gritty ambition in WTC final

When it comes to major cricket finals, Australia is in a league of its own.

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Only Australia have won all four men’s global trophies. It is hard to beat in finals, having won 10 of 13 across the 50-over World Cup, 20-over World Cup, Champions Trophy, and World Test Championship (WTC). And let's not get started on the women’s team, which is even more dominant.

The men go for world title No. 11 from Wednesday in the WTC final against South Africa at neutral Lord's.

That ruthless focus Australia bring on the biggest stages is in marked contrast to South Africa, a perennial underachiever. The Proteas have won just one major title, the Champions Trophy in 1998, when most of the current Proteas were toddlers.

An experienced squad - average age 29 1/2 - compensates with a bond that can't be underestimated, a determination to have each other's backs.

That showed often in the 2023-25 WTC cycle as the Proteas, who used 30 players, more than any other team, found a run-scorer or wicket-taker at just the right time. They won their last seven Tests and were first to qualify for the final.

"We haven't been super dominant in our performances,"