London, UK - The stage is set at Lord's Cricket Ground for the highly anticipated World Test Championship (WTC) 2025 final, beginning on June 11th. Defending champions Australia will face South Africa, who are eager to claim their first-ever ICC trophy. While Australia aims to retain its title, Captain Pat Cummins has some critical selection and form dilemmas that could heavily influence the outcome.

Here are five burning questions that could determine whether the WTC trophy heads to South Africa:

1. Marnus Labuschagne's Form - A Mounting Concern:

Australia's middle-order mainstay, Marnus Labuschagne, has been battling a lean patch since the 2023 Ashes. He hasn't scored a Test century in two years, averaging just 27.47 in his last 12 Tests. His recent county cricket performances for Glamorgan (0, 4, and 23 runs) further highlight his struggle for runs. This puts immense pressure on Pat Cummins regarding Labuschagne's place in the starting XI.

2. Cameron Green's Role - Batting Order Conundrum:

The batting order for all-rounder Cameron Green is another puzzle for Cummins. Green has been in sensational form in county cricket for Gloucestershire, averaging 66.71 in his last nine innings, including scores of 128, 67*, 118*, and 25. He's reportedly open to batting at number three, a position he has experience in from his junior career. However, Green has recently recovered from a back injury and is expected to play solely as a batsman to manage his workload, reducing Australia's bowling options and forcing a strategic rethink.

3. The Opening Partner for Usman Khawaja:

The retirement of David Warner has left a void at the top of Australia's Test batting order. While Travis Head was tried as an opener on the Sri Lanka tour, the conditions at Lord's are vastly different. Young Sam Konstas, who impressed in the home series against India, is an option but lacks experience in English conditions. The latest reports suggest that Marnus Labuschagne is the selectors' preferred choice to open with Usman Khawaja, despite his recent form, in a move that aims to accommodate Cameron Green in the middle order. This would be Khawaja's fifth opening partner in nine Tests since Warner's retirement.

4. Alex Carey vs. Josh Inglis - The Wicketkeeper's Dilemma:

The choice between Alex Carey and Josh Inglis for the wicketkeeper's spot is a tough one. Alex Carey is generally expected to take the gloves. However, if Inglis plays purely as a batsman, it could disrupt the team's balance, especially given the current struggles of some top-order batsmen. Both have had strong performances, with Inglis recently scoring a maiden ODI century and Carey showcasing his ability to score big runs in Asia.

5. The Third Seamer - Boland's Form vs. Hazlewood's Lord's Record:

Pat Cummins faces a difficult decision in selecting the third fast bowler to complement himself and Mitchell Starc. Josh Hazlewood is coming off a successful IPL 2025 campaign where his team emerged champions and boasts an impressive record at Lord's, having never lost a Test there and taking 13 wickets in three appearances. However, Scott Boland is also in excellent form. He was a key performer in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy after Hazlewood's injury, taking 21 wickets in three Test matches at an average of 13.19, and was chosen ahead of Hazlewood in the WTC 2023 final. This selection headache highlights Australia's strong fast-bowling depth but also the tough call Cummins must make.