High-profile series commence new WTC cycle
The ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 cycle will begin with three intriguing contests in Sri Lanka.
We may be just days removed from an enthralling ICC World Test Championship 2025 Final, though red-ball action for the 2027 mace begins on Tuesday, in the fourth WTC cycle.
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Skipper Temba Bavuma lifts the coveted ICC World Test Championship mace as South Africa are crowned winners at Lord's.
The action begins with a face-off between two Asian rivals, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh commencing on 17 June. The first Test of this cycle will carry a lot of meaning to the island nation, who seek to give the perfect farewell to all-rounder Angelo Mathews, who retires after this contest in Galle. The second game of the series will be played in Colombo.
Overlapping the action in Colombo will be the first Test of India’s tour of England, where new skipper Shubman Gill is slated to lead the side in a five-game Test series against the Ben Stokes-led side.
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Watch the full match highlights as Aiden Markram and Kagiso Rabada led the way as South Africa bested the defending champions Australia to clinch the World Test Championship mace at Lord's.
The two teams will go head-to-head at Headingley, Edgbaston, Lord’s, Old Trafford and The Oval in the coming weeks.
And before the month comes to a close, the beaten finalists, Australia will feature in a three-Test contest against the West Indies for the prestigious Frank Worrell Trophy.
While the Aussies have a contemporary advantage over the Caribbean side, they’ll be wary of the Windies under a new skipper in Roston Chase.
The West Indies also defeated Australia in a Test at Gabba, Brisbane in January 2024 and managed to draw the series 1-1, their first drawn outing against the opposition since 1999.
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With discomfort in his hamstring, Temba Bavuma continues to fight on for South Africa as they push for a historic win at Lord's.
Mr. Jay Shah, ICC Chair, gave his best wishes to the competing sides and had high hopes from the upcoming event.
“The third edition of the World Test Championship came to a fantastic conclusion at Lord’s as Australia and South Africa played out a classic encounter and we now look forward to the next instalment,” Shah said.
“This Championship continues to invigorate Test match cricket, and four of the nine competing nations have now reached a Final over the first three cycles.
“Bringing context for players and fans, as well as a high level of competitiveness, is key and the big turnout out at Lord’s – as well as the viewership levels across the globe – for the Final is testimony to the continued popularity of Test cricket.”
As per the previous cycles, nine teams will contest the WTC and each nation will play six other sides – three home and three away – over the course of the two-year period.
The points percentage system used in the previous two editions will determine the standings, with teams earning 12 points for a win, six for a tie and four for a draw.
Australia play 11 matches at home – including an Ashes series against England later this year and four Tests against New Zealand – and the same number away.
England play 11 Tests on their own turf and 10 on the road, visiting World Test Championship title winners South Africa for a three-Test tour in December 2026.
India will play 18 matches in this cycle, split evenly home and away, with 2021 champions New Zealand playing in 16.
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