Pot of gold awaits Proteas if they win Test final: How much money is at stake

It might not be quite what some of the players earn individually in tournaments like the Indian Premier League, but the winners of the upcoming World Test Championship final, to be played at Lord’s next month, are in for a big pay day.

The final will be contested between South Africa and Australia, who finished in the top two positions following the latest ICC Test cycle, which ran from 2023 to this year.

The teams that finished third to ninth will also pocket very decent prize money from the International Cricket Council.

This year’s final will be played at Lord’s in London from June 11 to 15.

‘Mega fixture’

The winners of the match will take home a purse of $3.6 million. In rand terms that is R65 million. It is more than double ($1.6 million) what New Zealand (2021) and Australia (2023) earned after winning the previous two Test finals.

The losing finalists will bank $2.1 million, which is R38 million. This is also significantly more than what the previous runners up took home, namely $800,000.

Proteas Test captain Temba Bavuma said he and his team were pleased to have qualified for the final.

“Everyone understands the importance of Test cricket and the World Test Championship lends context to this vital format of the game. Lord’s is a fitting venue for this mega fixture and all of us will be out there trying to give our best against Australia,” Bavuma said.

“The anticipation is increasing with less than one month to go, and I am sure fans around the world would be following the fortunes of both teams come 11 June.”

The South African and Australian squads were recently announced for the final. Both teams will look to get some quality preparation in before the match at Lord’s as both have played only white ball cricket this year.

The Proteas are scheduled to face Zimbabwe in a four-day match in the coming weeks to prepare for the final.

Prize money:

First/winners: $3.6 million

Second/runners up: $2.16 million

Third: India $1.44 million

Fourth: New Zealand $1.2 million

Fifth: England $960,000

Sixth: Sri Lanka $840,000

Seventh: Bangladesh $720,000

Eighth: West Indies $600,000

Ninth: Pakistan 480,000