"If you have a Test team that is strong and plays regularly, that has spin-offs for the other formats," he told reporters

Gabela, 35, said: "I had to be here and welcome the boys home. They have suffered so many heartbreaks during the past two decades. Now we are champions of the world."

"It's very hard for the average cricket fan to understand who's the best team in the world and how exactly the top two teams make it to the final," said former England captain Michael Vaughan, now a television pundit.

If there were still doubters of Test cricket's enduring magic in the age of T20 fireworks, South Africa’s thrilling five-wicket victory over defending champions Australia offered the most poetic rebuttal.

South Africa batting chief Ashwell Prince said captain Temba Bavuma was approaching a "defining moment" in his career after the batter's gutsy innings on Friday helped take the Proteas to the brink of World Test Championship final glory against Australia at Lord's.

Australia's Steve Smith was taken to hospital with a dislocated finger after dropping a catch in the World Test Championship final against South Africa at Lord's on Friday.

Mitchell Starc starred with bat and ball to leave Australia well-placed in their World Test Championship final against South Africa at Lord's on Friday.

Australia captain Pat Cummins said the World Test Championship final against South Africa was a good advertisement for Test cricket despite hurtling towards a likely finish within three days.

South Africa's Kagiso Rabada was left thinking of what might have been even though he took five Australia wickets as bowlers dominated Wednesday's first day of the World Test Championship final at Lord's.

But at stumps South Africa had slumped to 43-4 in reply, a deficit of 169 runs.

Kagiso Rabada took five wickets as South Africa dismissed Australia for 212 after tea on Wednesday's opening day of the World Test Championship final at Lord's.

Defending champions Australia were in desperate trouble in overcast conditions in London at 16-2 after losing Usman Khawaja and Cameron Green in a single Rabada over.

Marnus Labuschagne will open for Australia in the World Test Championship final against South Africa, captain Pat Cummins announced Tuesday.

South Africa coach Shukri Conrad said his side had enjoyed an "enlightening" evening with England fast-bowling great Stuart Broad ahead of their World Test Championship final against Australia at Lord's.

The Ultimate Test nears closer as the two best teams, South Africa and Australia, do battle for the World Test Championship mace from 11 June.