The World Test Championship was introduced by the International Cricket Council in 2021 to try and give the world’s most respected form of the game some relevance in a sport increasingly dominated by Twenty20. But after two years of the tournament, with a final to be played at Lord’s this week, it is not winning the hearts of the fans.
The reason is that the format – with each country playing three series of between two and five Tests against each other, with positions being calculated on the percentage of points won – is wildly skewed. Unlike most sports leagues, the nine teams in this competition don’t play each other evenly and, as demonstrated by the paths taken by the finalists this year, they also don’t always play against each other’s biggest rivals.
In fact, the 2025 final, which South Africa won, was only their first ICC title since 1998 as they ended a 27-year wait with a five-wicket victory against Australia at Lord’s. Aiden Markram’s unbeaten century and a partnership of 122 between him and captain Temba Bavuma gave the Proteas an unlikely advantage as they chased down 282 with 59 overs to spare.
This week’s final, which was moved from Lord’s to the Rose Bowl in Southampton because of Covid protocols, is likely to be another low-key affair. That is because the format itself – a shambles masquerading as a showpiece – has never been popular. It has been denounced by the likes of Wisden, which last year described it as “the sporting equivalent to climate change or saving rhinos.” But it is not impossible to fix the problem and the final at Lord’s could be a turning point.
