The 2023-25 ICC World Test Championship concluded with South Africa clinching the title at Lord’s, winning a dramatic final against defending champions Australia. Aiden Markram’s unbeaten century and a crucial partnership with Temba Bavuma helped the Proteas overcome a deficit of 69 runs, earning them their first ICC trophy in 27 years.
The World Test Championship was launched in 2019 as a means to add significance to bilateral Test series across a two-year cycle. Its format reflects the same principles as the annual World Cups for one-day and T20 international cricket, with countries ranked on their performance in each competition. The top two teams book a place in the final, and the winners receive the coveted ICC Test mace.
But the WTC has been subject to criticism – including a scathing assessment by Wisden, cricket’s ‘bible’, in which its editor described this week’s showpiece at Lord’s as a “shambles masquerading as a showpiece”. The ICC has been accused of adopting a sticking-plaster approach to the sport’s oldest and most endangered format.
In order to address some of these concerns, a number of changes have been suggested to the competition’s structure. This includes adding the three Test-playing nations that are currently omitted, and creating two six-team divisions with teams being promoted and relegated each year. There are also calls to change the points system, which currently deducts a point for each over that is bowled at an over rate below 90.