Moody Believes AUS Have Edge Over SA In WTC Final: 'That Winning Mentality…' – News18

Former Australian cricketer Tom Moody asserts that over the years, Australia has consistently excelled in high-stakes matches, elevating their game ahead of the upcoming World Test Championship (WTC) final against South Africa.
The match between South Africa and Australia, vying for the ICC’s prestigious mace, will commence on June 11 at Lord’s.
South Africa is striving to secure their first ICC trophy in over two decades, while Pat Cummins-led Australia aims to retain the mace they won after defeating India in the previous WTC final at the Oval in June 2023.
Moody remarked on Star Sports, “The Australians have built that reputation through consistent success in major tournaments. When it comes to ICC events, Australia somehow elevates their game to another level as a team. They genuinely embrace the challenges of tournament cricket and thrive under the pressure of these high-stakes matches.
“It’s also about confidence. Historically, many of their players have won multiple ICC tournaments, and they’ve grown up watching previous generations achieve the same success. That winning mentality is ingrained in them.”
In the past two years, the Proteas have enjoyed an impressive run in ICC events. They reached the ICC Men’s World Cup semi-final, the ICC Champions Trophy semi-final, the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup final, and now the ICC WTC final.
Moody believes Australia has a slight edge over South Africa due to their greater experience in high-pressure situations.
“You need to trust your instincts and ensure you block out the negativity of not having played Test cricket for several months or suddenly playing in England with completely different conditions. That’s the essence and beauty of Test cricket: the ability to adapt and respond as needed. Both teams are likely aware of this, but I think Australia has a slight advantage due to their experience in more big matches compared to South Africa in recent years,” he commented.
(with IANS sources)

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