The ICC’s World Test Championship was launched in 2019 to add context and competitiveness to the game’s longest, purest format. But while its intention was noble, the execution has been flawed, with uneven scheduling and an incoherent points system contributing to a structure that feels more like sticking a plaster on than providing an aspirational alternative for fans of the most traditional form of cricket.
South Africa’s path to the WTC final, which sees them face Australia this week at Lord’s, has been a case in point. It was shaped by an ill-thought-out schedule that saw the Proteas play only two-Test series against teams ranked sixth, seventh, eighth, and ninth in the ICC Test rankings. That raised serious questions about fairness, competitive balance, and the legitimacy of qualification – not to mention the financial health of the game’s oldest format.
The ICC should take this opportunity to rethink the way it organises Test series and, in particular, how it allocates home and away slots. The rejig should involve a league phase, staged over the first three years of each World Cup cycle, with the top four ranked teams automatically qualifying for the World Cup in 2024. This would ensure that the best teams regularly face each other, and provide a real incentive for nations to improve their Test-matching standards. It could also be made financially viable for lower-ranked teams by guaranteeing fixtures against the Big Three and by offering ICC support for sponsorship facilitation when they host such series, boosting visibility and revenue opportunities.