The ICC’s World Test Championship has been a resounding success in its two cycles thus far. It has added context and value to bilateral Test series beyond the established rivalries – which it has also boosted. But it is a competition that is not without detractors, citing an imbalanced fixture list and a points percentage table that requires an enigma machine to understand.
But the World Test Championship’s true impact may only be fully understood once it has been hosted in a home country. This is because it has become a major event in its own right, with sell-out crowds a common sight at the showpiece finals. The 2021 and 2023 finals were held in England, and it was announced last week that the ECB would host the next three editions of the tournament, beginning with the 2027 finale.
This will give the tournament a massive boost in terms of attendances, with England’s popularity as a cricketing destination helping to ensure a huge turnout for the final. It will also help to ensure that the competition continues to attract the highest calibre of teams, a factor that is vital if it is to continue to be a worthy successor to the ICC’s previous Test Championship ranking system.
South Africa will certainly be hoping to capitalise on that reputation when it hosts the 2025 showpiece, having ripped the Test mace from Australia’s callused grip in a riveting final at Lord’s. The Proteas will have their nerves jangling if they are to avoid an early exit, however.