The day South Africa ripped the World Test Championship mace from Australia’s callused grasp at Lord’s was one of the most glorious days in cricket history. It was a day that spelled the end of the label “underdogs” for the Proteas and brought to life the thrill, fear and agony of high-stakes test match competition.
But the ICC’s WTC, which has only recently been revived by Haroon Lorgat, should go even further in order to make it truly meaningful for the world of international cricket. Instead of a complex league system that feels like it passes unnoticed, the idea should be extended to a tournament-like structure, much like the World Cup, with a final to match.
As things stand, the WTC has nine competing nations playing bilateral series to earn points that ultimately determine their ranking at the conclusion of a two-year cycle. The top two at the end of that process then compete in a final to win the World Test Championship.
This arrangement is skewed by the fact that India and Pakistan, due to political tensions, have not played each other since 2007. That is a major flaw in the current system and it should be rectified, with the top eight teams playing home-and-away series in pairs of four or five matches over at least three Tests.
The resulting system would still allow for the euphoria of a one-off final but it would ensure that all teams have a chance to shine in an exciting competition that isn’t dependent on India’s participation. The world of test cricket would benefit enormously from the elation and excitement that such a competition could bring.