In a sport dominated by popular Twenty 20 tournaments, the International Cricket Council introduced the World Test Championship to give more significance to the longest form of the game. The competition lasts two years and culminates with a final match between the top teams in the league.
The first two cycles were won by New Zealand in 2021 and Australia in 2023, with India finishing as the runner-up in both. England has hosted the two ICC WTC finals, and it is likely that the 2025 final will be held at Lord’s. The country has a long history of cricket, and its stadiums regularly draw sold-out crowds. In addition, it hosts the final in June, which is typically a warmer time of year and has less of a chance of being disrupted by rain.
The WTC is based on a points system with wins worth 12 points, ties worth six points, and losses worth zero points. Teams that have a higher over rate than their opponents are awarded more points. The ‘big three’ — Australia, India, and England — play more series, which means they earn more points than teams from less-affluent nations that do not compete as frequently. Nevertheless, the new point system has created some controversy as it seems that the WTC is not giving greater importance to the game’s oldest format, and that smaller teams are at a disadvantage. The ICC is considering changes to the WTC, including a possible expansion of the number of participating teams and a revision of the over-rate penalty system.