The World Test Championship was introduced to increase the relevance and importance of the format in a cricket calendar dominated by Twenty 20 tournaments. Each team plays three series of between two and five Test matches at home and away in a cycle that lasts two years. The winner of the World Test Championship is crowned as champions of the format and receive a special trophy.
The Proteas’ victory in London will go down as one of the most satisfying days in their history and it was an emotional moment for the players after they lifted the trophy at Lord’s. It also lays to rest the ghosts of heart-breaking losses on big ICC stages that have haunted the Proteas for decades.
England is chosen for finals for a number of reasons – good infrastructure, large crowds, time zone that aligns with India’s prime viewing hours and pitches that allow for fast bowling. It has become a tradition and despite criticism, it’s a decision that most teams have supported.
The naysayers argue that it’s too late to fix the championship, which features a strange points system with zeroes for losses and sixes for draws, plus a bizarre rule allowing for deductions for slow overs. They want to see a more fair division of the sport, with promotion and relegation, that ensures Test cricket remains a vital, competitive global fixture while developing emerging nations. It’s a debate that will only get a lot more attention as the World Test Championship continues in 2024 and beyond.