The ICC World Test Championship (WTC) is a biennial world championship for Test cricket organised by the International Cricket Council (ICC). The winners of the tournament are awarded the Test Mace, which was previously held by the leader of the Test Championship. South Africa are the current champions, having defeated Australia in the 2025 final at Lord's.
WTC league games are organized by the host nation's cricket board, whereas the final is organized directly by the ICC. The inaugural ICC World Test Championship started with the 2019 Ashes series and finished with New Zealand lifting the trophy after defeating India in the final in June 2021. The second ICC World Test Championship started on 4 August 2021 with the England–India series and finished with Australia lifting the trophy after defeating India in the final in June 2023. The third ICC World Test Championship started on 16 June 2023 with the 2023 Ashes series and concluded with South Africa defeating Australia in the final. The current ICC World Test Championship began with Bangladesh touring Sri Lanka and will conclude at The Oval, London
History +Men's World Test Championship winnersWTC CycleChampions2019–21 2021–232023–25 This championship was first proposed in 1996 by Clive Lloyd, former cricketer and then manager of the West Indies team. Later, in 2009, when the ICC met the MCC to discuss a proposed Test match championship. Former New Zealand captain Martin Crowe was one of the main brains behind this proposal.ICC calls meeting with MCC to discuss proposed World Test Championship, The Telegraph. Retrieved 4 January 2012
In July 2010 ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat suggested a quadrennial tournament with the four best-ranked nations meeting in the semi-finals and a final, in a bid to boost flagging interest in the longest form of the sport. The first tournament was meant to replace the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy in England and Wales.
The idea of a Test championship was considered by the ICC Chief Executives' Committee at a meeting at their headquarters in Dubai in mid-September 2010. ICC spokesperson Colin Gibson said that much more would be revealed after the meeting, and that if the championship was held in England, then the favoured final venue would be Lord's.ICC to hold World Test Cup in 2013?, The Times of India. Retrieved 4 January 2012 As expected, the ICC approved the plan and said that the first tournament would be held in England and Wales in 2013. The format of the tournament was also announced. It would comprise an inaugural league stage, played over a period of four years, with all ten current Test cricket nations (Australia, India, England, South Africa, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, New Zealand, West Indies, Zimbabwe, and Bangladesh) participating. After the league stage the top four teams will take part in the play-offs, with the final determining the Test cricket champions.ICC approves Test championship, ESPNCricinfo. Retrieved 4 January 2012
There was a debate as to whether the play-off would take place between the top eight teams or the top four teams, but the latter was unanimously chosen by the board. It was also announced that the tournament would replace the ICC Champions Trophy. No decision had been made concerning how to decide the outcome of drawn matches in the knock-out stages.
However, in 2011, the ICC announced that the Test Championship would not take place until 2017, and that the 2013 tournament would be cancelled because of financial problems within the board, and its commitment to its sponsors and broadcasters. England and Wales, the original hosts of this cancelled tournament, were awarded the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy instead, the tournament that the Test Championship was intended to replace.World Test Championship to be Postponed; Financial Considerations to Blame , Crickblog. Retrieved 4 January 2012 This drew widespread criticism; both Greg Chappell and Graeme Smith criticised the ICC, saying that postponing the Test Championship was wrong and unjustified.Test Championship postponement a 'shame' – Greg Chappell ESPNCricinfo. Retrieved 4 January 2012Ken Borland, ICC too slow on test championship says Smith, Stuff.co.nz, 17 November 2011. Retrieved 4 January 2012 The Guardian reported that this postponement was a blow to Lord's, which had been expected to host the final.Lord's suffers Test Championship blow as ICC scraps mandatory DRS rule, The Guardian, 11 October 2011. Retrieved 3 January 2012
At the ICC Chief Executives' meeting in April 2012, it was confirmed that the ICC Champions Trophy would be last held in 2013 with the inaugural Test Championship play-offs being scheduled for June 2017.No Champions Trophy after 2013, Cricinfo. Retrieved 17 April 2012 The ICC said that there would be only one trophy for each format of the game, which meant that the Champions Trophy would no longer take place since the Cricket World Cup is the premier event for 50-over cricket.
The final would possibly have followed the historical timeless test format. Further improvements in the structure of the championship have also been discussed.
However, in January 2014, the 2017 ICC World Test Championship was cancelled and the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy was reinstated.
In October 2017, the ICC announced that a Test league had been agreed upon by its members, which would involve the top nine teams playing series over two years with the top two teams qualifying for a World Test League Championship Final, which will be considered as an ICC event.
Tournament summary
9-Team Tournaments
The first tournament began with the 2019 Ashes series. In March 2020, matches were suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic, not resuming before July 2020, with several rounds of matches being postponed or ultimately cancelled. New Zealand became the first team to qualify for the final, when it was confirmed that the series between South Africa and Australia would not proceed, followed by India. The inaugural World Test Championship Final was played between India and New Zealand from 18 to 23 June 2021 at Rose Bowl, Southampton, England. Despite the opening and fourth day of the final being washed out by rain, New Zealand managed to win in the final session of the reserve day and lifted the first World Test Championship trophy.
The WTC 2021–23 cycle began in August 2021 with Pataudi Trophy (5 matches series between India and England). The International Cricket Council officially announced the full programme with a new points system. Australia qualified for the final by winning the 3rd Test Match of the 2022–23 Border-Gavaskar Trophy. India qualified after Sri Lanka failed to win the first match of their series in New Zealand, qualifying for the final for the second consecutive time. The final was played from 7 June to 11 June 2023 at The Oval, London, England, with Australia emerging as champions after defeating India by 209 runs. This was India's second consecutive defeat at the WTC final.
The WTC 2023–25 cycle began with the 1st Ashes Test on 16 June 2023. The International Cricket Council officially announced that the WTC final will be played at Lord's in the summer of 2025. In the final, South Africa defeated Australia by 5 wickets to win their maiden championship. This was also their second ICC trophy after the 1998 KnockOut Trophy. Aiden Makram was awarded Player of the Match.
12-Team Championship The 2027–2029 tournament is expected to include all 12 Test-playing nations, featuring Afghanistan, Zimbabwe, and Ireland. With plans for a two-tier system with promotion and relegation scrapped, the ICC is expected to include four-day tests for smaller nations. This will allow weaker teams to play a similar amount of tests as stronger teams.
Results
CycleNumber of teamsFinal Venue Winners Result Runners-up Player of the final Winning captain2019–20219Rose Bowl, Southampton249 & 140/2New Zealand won by 8 wickets Scorecard Kyle Jamieson Kane Williamson2021–2023The Oval, LondonAustralia won by 209 runs Scorecard296 & 234 Travis Head Pat Cummins2023–2025Lord's, London 138 & 282/5South Africa won by 5 wickets Scorecard 212 & 207 Aiden Markram Temba Bavuma2025–2027The Oval, London2027–2029
Team performances Overview
Team StatisticsBest performance Matches Won Lost Draw Tied % Win 64 41 14 9 0 64.06 Champions 45 25 18 2 0 55.55 Champions 45 23 18 4 0 51.11 Champions 67 36 23 8 0 53.73 Runners-up 81 39 33 9 0 48.14 4th place 43 13 22 8 0 30.23 5th place 49 15 27 7 0 30.61 6th place 37 8 26 3 0 21.62 7th place 51 12 31 8 0 23.52 8th place Source: CricInfo
Key 1stWinner2ndRunners-up
An overview of all the Test playing nations' performances:
2019–20212021–20232023–20252025–2027 3rd 1st 2nd 9th 9th 7th 4th 4th 5th 2nd 2nd 3rd 1st 6th 4th 6th 7th 9th 5th 3rd 1st 7th 5th 6th 8th 8th 8th
Tournament records
BattingMost runs Joe Root 6,815Most hundreds 23Most runs in a single tournament 1,968 (2023–2025)Most hundreds in a single tournament 8 (2021–23)Highest score David Warner v 335* (2019–21)BowlingMost wickets Mitchell Starc 234Most wickets in a single tournament Nathan Lyon 88 (2021–23)Best bowling in an innings Ajaz Patel v 10/119 (2021–23)Best bowling in a match 14/225 (2021–23)FieldingMost dismissals by a wicket-keeper Alex Carey 210Most dismissals in a single tournament 98 (2023–25)Most catches by a fielder Steve Smith 123Most catches in a single tournament 43 (2023–25)TeamHighest score v 823/7d (2023–25)Lowest score v 27 (2025–27)
Trophy
The Test Mace was designed and made by British silversmiths, Thomas Lyte. The mace is made of silver and 24-carat gold plate and the base is hardwood. The long handle was designed to represent a stump and the top of the trophy is designed like a cricket ball.
See also Cricket World Cup ICC Men's T20 World Cup ICC Champions Trophy ACC Asian Test Championship 2005 ICC Super Series
References
External links of the ICC World Test Championship of ICC ICC World Test Championship ESPN Cricinfo