The Cricket Drop 🏏 #10 - You've got it all wrong, Michael Vaughan
This week marks the start of the World Test Championship Final, at Lord’s, between South Africa and Australia.
Good morning, cricket fans. Here’s your Cricket Drop - edition number 10 - on Wednesday, June 11, 2025.
Today’s Headlines
🏆 Michael Vaughan: you have got it all wrong. Today marks the start of the World Test Championship Final, at Lord’s, between South Africa and Australia.
Ex-England captain Vaughan has said SA got to the final "on the back of beating pretty much nobody" and they don't "warrant being” there.
Former Australia spinner Kerry O'Keeffe, meanwhile, called SA's run "like making the Wimbledon final without playing a seed on the way".
Let’s take a breath for a moment, shall we, gents? Firstly, it’s hardly Temba Bavuma’s fault who his side have been put up against. And secondly, Michael, they’re playing Australia. Rally behind them.
Full disclosure: I have skin in this game. Australia have given me more heartbroken December mornings and despairing summer evenings than any other cricketing nation. If I say his name three times I’m pretty sure Rory Burns will appear in my front room, with an unprotected leg stump.
🏏 But away from Australia’s unrelenting cricketing machine… well, we all love an underdog, don’t we? South Africa are the perennial chokers: 1992. 1999. 2023. 2024 (The Guardian’s Daniel Gallan deep dives into this more).
Did they get through the back door? Maybe. They played the equal-fewest Tests across the two-year cycle and put the bottom-four sides to the sword.
But now they have their work cut out. Pat Cummins, Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon have more than 1500 Test wickets among them and are now looking to tick off another box: feature in a title-winning XI together, reports Cricinfo. It’s like The Beatles versus The Dave Clark Five.
And Oz sure love Lord’s. Since their 75-year unbeaten streak at Lord’s ended during the 2009 Ashes, they have three wins, one loss and a draw since then. Steve Smith has 525 runs at 58.33 at Lord’s. He posted on Instagram it was “great to be back at the Home of Cricket” this week. Yeah, of course you think it is, Steve.
🇿🇦 But SA topped the WTC table after taking 69.44% of their possible points from 12 Tests. You can only beat what’s in front of you, Vaughan. Maybe we should blame England’s inability to fulfil the over rate?
Kagiso Rabada has taken 49 Australian wickets at 23.08 across 10 Tests, and has the best average at Lord’s of all the fast bowlers appearing in the WTC.
Ah, would you look at that? I’m starting to hope. Foolish of me. But you’d be heartless for not wanting SA to succeed.
And if you’re still in doubt then I’ll let my case rest with this. In 25 years will Australia and England still be playing Tests against Pakistan, West Indies and SA?
🗣️ Cummins said:
“It’s really hard to say. I hope so. But if we just let things play out, probably not.”
That can’t be allowed to happen.
🗞️ For what it’s worth, there’s plenty of great pre-WTC Final reading out there this week. Here’s The Cricket Drop’s picks of the bunch:
CricketAU looked at five battles that could decide the World Test Championship.
Bavuma reflects on his path from township to the WTC final with Donald McRae. And discussing his pride at leading the Proteas, he told the BBC: “You grow a thick skin."
The WTC final is the biggest match of Bavuma's career, but he's dealt with this kind of pressure before, reports Cricinfo.
Is there a reserve day and what happens in case of a draw? Vishal Dikshit has your FAQs.
The current WTC finalists have been part of some fierce battles since 2000. Cricinfo has 10 of the best.
Friend of The Cricket Drop, Ben Brettell, was back on The Last Wicket podcast to talk all things WTC. Listen via Spotify here.
England’s week in review - and player stock watch 🏴
🏴 England versus the Windies wrapped up with an emphatic T20 series victory for Harry Brook’s boys.
STOCK UP
⬆️ 11 men bowled spin for England between Liam Dawson's 20th and 21st international caps. In taking 4-20 in the first T20, Dawson gave a hint at what England have been missing.
⬆️ Jacob Bethell's stunning cameo of 26 from 10 balls, including three huge sixes, caught the eye in the second T20. The Telegraph says he went from “impotence” to “importance” with the knock. Sleepless nights for Ollie Pope.
⬆️ Oh, and Tom Banton's unbeaten 30 off 11 was pretty good, too wasn’t it?
STOCK DOWN
⬇️ England named their squad for the first India Test last week. Surrey quick Gus Atkinson has been sidelined.
But in more positive news, Jofra Archer could make his return to Test cricket at Edgbaston in the second Test, the Telegraph says.
🏴 England women, meanwhile, sealed a comprehensive one-day international series clean sweep over WI with a nine-wicket thrashing at Taunton.
There are much tougher tests to come, starting with India's arrival in late June before the very challenging prospect of a 50-over World Cup in India and Sri Lanka at the end of September.
BBC Sport has reflected on what we’ve learned so far from Charlotte Edwards’ reign. ESPN's Valkerie Baynes, meanwhile, says tougher times lie ahead after the perfect start to the Edwards era.
Around the world 🌎
🏴 Sweet Caroline, fireworks, Northants Steelbacks top of the table… the Blast is back, baby. My beloved Birmingham Bears are finally off the mark (thank you, Hassan Ali hat-trick), Jimmy Anderson continues to impress and The Guardian has all the talking points from this week’s fixtures.
😲 Blimey. WI’s Nicholas Pooran has retired from international duty with aged 29, Reuters reports.
🏴 Birmingham Phoenix's US investor Tom Wagner says he has "every confidence" a deal for the Hundred franchise will be finalised, BBC reports. Birmingham Blues incoming?
🇮🇳 RCB have challenged the arrest of their Head of Marketing following the tragic parade in the wake of the franchise’s IPL victory, reports ESPNCricinfo.
🇮🇳 News Laundry’s Sarthak Dev talked to fans and former police about how the harrowing events unfolded.
🇿🇦 The exit of Rob Walter as white-ball coach and his omission from the central contracts forced Heinrich Klaasen's decision to quit SA aged 33, Cricbuzz says.
🏴 Thoughts with Sophie Ecclestone. She has decided to take a break from all cricket to prioritise her “well-being”, Yahoo Sports reports.
🇮🇳 Sportstar reflect on why India’s fast bowlers keep breaking down — and how it can be fixed.
🇮🇳 On Medium, Kashish Chadha explores Virat Kohli's Test career, and how he tailed off towards the end of it.
🏆 Jimmy Anderson is chuffed after the England-India Test series was named the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, reports Cricinfo.
🗣️ Jimmy said:
"I remember watching him, an absolute legend of the game. To have this trophy is a huge honour for me, and I couldn't be more proud.”
🏟️ India's Tests against WI and SA have been swapped between Delhi and Kolkata, reports The Statesman.
Photo of the week 📷
📷 Jeremy Clarkson meets Pat Cummins. The Aussie captain took a break from preparations for WTC final by playing a game with Clarkson’s Farm stars.
🗣️ Clarkson said:
“I’ve never been a fan of cricket.”
The Cricket Drop has always been more of a James May fan, anyway.
Ticket Drop 🎫
🎫 All eyes turn to India’s trip to England, now it is a mere week away. For tickets to Headingley (only day four tickets remain) click here, Edgbaston (only day four tickets remain) click here, Lord’s (multiple days sold out) click here, Emirates Old Trafford (limited tickets remaining for day two and day three) click here and Kia Oval (only Day 5 tickets remain) click here.
🎫 Hey, and speaking of England vs India at Edgbaston, Sixes Social at the Mailbox says:
Join us for a celebration of cricket at Sixes Birmingham, your England & India fan park. Whether you have tickets to Edgbaston or need somewhere to watch live, join the party at Sixes!
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This week’s fixture highlights ⏰
Wednesday 11 June
ICC World Test Championship
South Africa vs Australia
Vitality Blast Men - North Group
Durham vs Derbyshire Falcons
Northamptonshire Steelbacks vs Bears
Nottinghamshire Outlaws vs Yorkshire
Thursday 12 June
Men's One Day International Series
Scotland vs Netherlands
Men's International Twenty20
Ireland vs West Indies
Vitality Blast Men - South Group
Essex vs Glamorgan
Somerset vs Middlesex
Surrey vs Kent Spitfires
Friday 13 June
Vitality Blast Men - South Group
Gloucestershire vs Somerset
Hampshire Hawks vs Middlesex
Sussex Sharks vs Essex
Vitality Blast Men - North Group
Worcestershire Rapids vs Lancashire Lightning
Northamptonshire Steelbacks vs Durham
Nottinghamshire Outlaws vs Derbyshire Falcons
Yorkshire vs Bears
Saturday 14 June
Men's International Twenty20 Match
Ireland vs West Indies
Vitality Blast Men - North Group
Derbyshire Falcons vs Leicestershire Foxes
Birmingham Bears vs Nottinghamshire Outlaws
Vitality Blast Men - South Group
Glamorgan vs Sussex Sharks
Sunday 15 June
Men's International Twenty20
Ireland vs West Indies
Vitality Blast Men - South Group
Gloucestershire vs Glamorgan
Somerset vs Kent Spitfires
Vitality Blast Men - North Group
Yorkshire vs Durham
Leicestershire Foxes vs Worcestershire Rapids
Tuesday 17 June
Vitality Blast Men - South Group
Hampshire Hawks vs Surrey
Podcast and video watch 🎧
📹 On Sky Sports Cricket this week (watch above via YouTube) Shaun Pollock previews the World Test Championship final with Michael Atherton and Nasser Hussain.
🎧 BBC Cricket reporter Henry Moeran hears how the Scotland Women’s cricket team went to not having a single fixture in their calendar. Listen via Spotify here.
🎧 Stuart Broad and Jos Buttler have just launched a podcast, For The Love of Cricket. Listen on Apple Podcasts here.
Just a note to say…
📮 The Blast is back - and I’ll be at Edgbaston for every game. If you’re there and want to say hello, ping me an email or just fill out this super simple form.
Still wondering what all this is about? The below article covers what I’m hoping The Cricket Drop will do for you. Thanks for reading. See you next week. Tips, comments and suggestions always welcome!
Thanks for the mention! Oh and your line about Rory Burns made me laugh out loud 😝