The World Test Championship (WTC) is a series of 67 Test matches that run for two years, with teams gaining points for wins, ties and draws. The winner receives the prestigious Mace trophy. The WTC is one of the ICC’s flagship events.
The first three World Test Championship finals were played in England, including last month’s showpiece at Lord’s, where South Africa defeated Australia to win their first ever title. However, this new competition has not been without controversy, with some Full Members (i.e. those ranked five to nine) arguing the WTC is unfair due to scheduling, while others claim the format is a way for bigger countries like England and India to avoid playing some of the smaller sides.
Currently, the WTC is structured as a league with eight teams, with a quarter-final, semi-final and final held in one host nation. This gives nations the chance to build momentum by playing a number of tests in quick succession, which can be difficult for less affluent countries that often only play two or three Tests in a series against their wealthier counterparts.
The WTC’s current points system sees teams gain 12 points for a win, six for a tie and four for a draw. There are no points for losses or a negative net score, and teams lose points if they bowl their overs too slowly. This can lead to inequality, with richer countries such as England and Australia able to schedule five-Test series against each other that attract high interest and profits but are also challenging to win. The same applies to other wealthy nations such as India and South Africa versus less-affluent ones like Sri Lanka or Bangladesh.