Cricket Australia has announced its Best XI of the Championship cycle ahead of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) Final 2023–25, with Pakistan spinner Noman Ali not excluded.

 

The WTC Final will be played between defending champions Australia and South Africa at Lord’s from 11 June. But before the title clash, Cricket Australia revealed its team of top performers from the championship cycle.

 

Despite Pakistan finishing at the bottom of the points table and delivering a disappointing overall performance, Noman Ali stood out individually with his exceptional bowling.

 

 

Noman played just six matches in the WTC cycle but took an impressive 46 wickets, outperforming many top bowlers around the world. His consistent form also earned him the ICC Player of the Month award for October.

 

During this short span, Noman twice took 10 wickets in a match and recorded five five-wicket hauls in individual innings, proving his impact and reliability as a red-ball bowler.

 

Cricket Australia’s selected XI includes three Australians, two each from New Zealand, England, and India, and one each from Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Surprisingly, South Africa’s captain, Temba Bavuma, despite leading his side to the final, was named only as the 12th man.

 

Australia’s Pat Cummins leads the team, with the reserves featuring Usman Khawaja and Alex Carey (Australia), Kane Williamson and Matt Henry (New Zealand), Jasprit Bumrah and Yashasvi Jaiswal (India), Joe Root and Harry Brook (England), Noman Ali (Pakistan), Kamindu Mendis (Sri Lanka), and Temba Bavuma (South Africa).