The World Test Championship is a prestigious biennial tournament organised by the International Cricket Council to determine the world’s best Test team. It is contested over a two-year cycle and aims to add context and excitement to the longest form of the game. The first cycle of the WTC started in August 2021 with the Ashes series and ended in June 2023, with New Zealand winning the title by defeating India in the final.
The WTC replaces the ICC Champions Trophy as the competition that decides the world’s top Test team. It follows a league and final format, with nine full member teams competing to win the coveted mace.
Each team plays six series, with three at home and three away. The top three teams then play a one-off match against each other at the Oval or Lord’s, with the winners claiming the title of World Test Champion.
Aiden Markram was named Player of the Match in the WTC final for his superb unbeaten 136 that helped South Africa successfully chase 282 at Lord’s. He put in a resolute performance to defy Australia’s potent attack and his crucial partnership with skipper Temba Bavuma sealed the victory for the Proteas.
Despite the success of the 2023-2025 cycle, there has been criticism surrounding some aspects of the tournament. These include the inclusion of a points system, in which a win is worth 12 points and a tie is worth six, while a loss will not earn a team any points. Moreover, the exclusion of test-playing nations Afghanistan, Ireland and Zimbabwe from the competition has also been criticised as focusing on profits over the development of the game.