Shastri predicts Australia's bowling attack for World Test Championship Final

India legend Ravi Shastri has provided his thoughts on the fast bowlers Australia should select for the ICC World Test Championship Final against South Africa at Lord's.

The reigning World Test Championship winners enter the one-off Test in London with a wealth of riches in their pace bowling department, with skipper Pat Cummins, left-armer Mitchell Starc and consistent duo Josh Hazlewood and Scott Boland likely vying for three fast bowling berths in Australia's XI.

The Aussies also have the option of including all-rounder Beau Webster in their XI should they wish to have an extra bowling option.

Shastri discussed Australia's selection dilemma with host Sanjana Ganesan on the most recent episode of The ICC Review and the former India coach believes Hazlewood should get the nod alongside Cummins, Starc and spinner Nathan Lyon should he prove his fitness ahead of the encounter.

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“It will be a very tough choice, but if Hazelwood is fit, then he gets the nod ahead of Boland,“ Shastri told The ICC Review.

Hazlewood was ruled out of three out of the five Tests during the recent battle for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy with India, and subsequently for Australia’s tour of Sri Lanka and the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 earlier this year with calf issues.

However, the 34-year-old has since returned to competitive cricket in the Indian Premier League and has looked in decent touch for Royal Challengers Bengaluru with 12 wickets across his first eight matches.

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While Shastri is a long-time admirer of Boland, the former India coach believes the conditions at Lord's may be more suited to Hazlewood's line and length.

“If Hazlewood is fit to do that, he will definitely get the nod for two reasons. One, the English conditions, two, Lord’s with the slope," he said.

“And the reason I say Lord’s slope is Hazlewood is most likened to Glenn McGrath.

“And you've got to just check Glenn McGrath's record at Lord’s, with the slope around and bowling from the Commentary Box end.

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One of the all-time greats, McGrath took 26 wickets in three Test matches at Lord’s, with a best effort of 8/38 in the second Test of Australia’s Tour of England and Scotland in 1997.

“He (McGrath) could be lethal with the ball either seaming back or going away and from either end, to be honest and I think Hazlewood can do something similar with his height,” Shastri said, when comparing Hazlewood to former Australia seamer McGrath.

“The pitches aren't as quick as in Australia. So you need that extra bit of height and bounce, which he will get as opposed to Scott Boland, though I'm a big fan of Scott Boland."

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Boland has an impeccable record when playing for Australia and, most notably, the 35-year-old featured in the World Test Championship Final against India in 2023 when he picked up five wickets across the two innings.

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He produced a brilliant spell in the second innings with figures of 3/46, which included the key wickets of Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja.

Boland also featured in Australia’s home triumph against India in 2024/25 that ensured a second successive World Test Championship final appearance and Shastri suggested the Aussies may consider using an all pace attack against the Proteas.

“Ideally, you want to play all four (seamers) if you get half a chance and if there's a little more grass on the surface,” Shastri said.