The World Test Championship is a league competition between the top 9 Test playing nations. The first edition began on 1st of August 2019 and replaces the ICC Champions Trophy. The competition is set to last for two years with a final held at Lord’s on Wednesday night.
South Africa’s win against Australia in the 2023-25 WTC final marked a welcome boost for a team that has often been criticised for its willingness to allow players to compete in T20 tournaments rather than play more Test matches. Aiden Markram’s century and a key partnership with captain Temba Bavumi helped the Proteas clinch their second major title in a row after their Rugby World Cup triumph, a result that ended years of tournament heartache for a team once viewed as the best side outside of the Big Three.
It is also the third time that a WTC final has taken place but the first since New Zealand won the inaugural competition in 2021. The format is designed to provide more context and meaning for Test series, with teams incentivized to push for victories because a win counts towards a coveted spot in the final. Longer series such as the Ashes still carry significant weight, but it is hoped that the WTC will add more interest to short and mid-length competitions as well.
The next cycle of the WTC begins in 2025-2026 with each country competing in six series – three at home and three away. The top four teams at the end of the league phase will qualify for the final to be played at Lord’s on the Wednesday night of the final week in June.