World Test Championship is a competition that provides additional context to bilateral test cricket in a global sports landscape increasingly dominated by one-day and Twenty 20 tournaments. The tournament features a series of matches that contribute points towards a team’s overall ranking, with the top two teams competing in the final. It is considered the apex of the Test format, analogous to the World Cup final in ODI and T20.
The inaugural World Test Championship cycle ended in 2021 with New Zealand lifting the trophy. The second WTC cycle, which has just concluded, was won by Australia, who beat India in the final of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The 2023-2025 WTC cycle was notable for a number of developments, including the removal of the Champions Trophy and the introduction of a new points system that favoured a high winning percentage.
South Africa’s resurgence, culminating in their victory in the final, has highlighted that there is still demand for the longer format despite the dominance of T20 franchises and a glut of short-form cricket. This is particularly true in regions where five-Test series between richer nations are expensive, exciting and lucrative but also difficult to win.
England has been repeatedly chosen as the venue for the World Test Championship final for a number of reasons. It has good infrastructure, strong crowds, a time zone that synchronizes with prime viewing hours in India and offers pitches that offer a balanced contest between bat and ball.