Just 69 runs stand between the Proteas and rewriting their painful history at ICC events as batters finally gained the upper hand on day three with few signs of the treacherous conditions that saw 28 wickets fall on the opening two days at Lord's.

A saving grace is that most top players appear to still view Test cricket as the pinnacle, such as Jamaica’s Mr Brandon King, who has kept faith with the red-ball format, amid his white-ball commitments. Mr King has now been rewarded with a place in the West Indies Test squad to face Australia.

By Mark Gleeson LONDON (Reuters) -Australia took control of the World Test Championship final on Thursday as they stretched their lead over South Africa to 106 runs at tea on the second day after captain Pat Cummins had taken six wickets.

Australia's last wicket pair of Mitchell Starc (58no) and Josh Hazlewood (17) foreshadowed what was to come as they too batted through almost the entire first session to take their side to 207 all out and set SA 282 for victory.

Assistant coach Daniel Vettori insists Australia have not given up hope of retaining their World Test Championship crown after South Africa finished the third day at Lord's in a commanding position.

By Mark Gleeson LONDON (Reuters) -Australia will look to add 20 to 30 more runs to their second innings total when the third day of the World Test Championship final against South Africa resumes at Lord’s on Friday,

Steve Smith's immediate playing future for Australia's upcoming Test tour of the Caribbean is in doubt after suffering a compound dislocation of finger on day three of the World Test Championship final at Lord's.