ICC World Test Championship
Overview
The ICC World Test Championship (WTC) is a league competition for Test cricket, introduced to provide context and meaning to bilateral Test series. Teams earn points from Test series played during a two-year cycle, with the top two teams qualifying for a one-off final.
History
The concept of a Test championship was discussed for decades, with proposals dating back to the 1990s. The WTC was finally launched in 2019 under ICC chairman Shashank Manohar's leadership. The first cycle (2019-2021) was disrupted by COVID-19 but concluded with a memorable final at Southampton. The championship has given Test cricket renewed purpose and generated interest in bilateral series that previously lacked context.
Format Changes
The first cycle used a points system based on series results. After COVID-19 disruptions, the points system was modified to use a percentage of available points. The system has been refined in subsequent cycles to ensure fairness and incentivize competitive cricket across all series.
Controversies
- •2019-21: COVID-19 disrupted the first cycle, with several series cancelled or postponed, affecting the fairness of qualification
- •Points system criticized for not accounting for different series lengths (2-match vs 5-match series)
- •Questions about whether a one-off final adequately determines the best Test team over two years
- •Home advantage concerns in the points system
- •Debates about expanding the final to a three-match series
All Editions
| Year | Host | Winner | Runner-Up | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | England (Southampton) | New Zealand | India | Inaugural WTC Final; New Zealand won on the reserve day; Kane Williamson led the team to their first ICC title in the Test format |
| 2023 | England (The Oval) | Australia | India | Australia dominated the final; Travis Head scored a century; India lost their second consecutive WTC Final |
| 2025 | England (Lord's) | TBD | TBD | Third WTC Final at Lord's |