ICC World Test Championship 2023-25: The World Test Championship (WTC) is all set to captivate cricket fans worldwide once again. The International Cricket Council (ICC) announced the schedule for the highly anticipated 2023-2025 cycle. After Australia’s triumphant victory in the second edition of the WTC (2021-2023), the cricketing world eagerly awaits the third edition of this prestigious tournament.
Commencing with the Ashes series between England and Australia, the WTC 2023-2025 cycle promises thrilling encounters and intense competition. Team India, aiming for redemption after their defeat in the final of the previous cycle, kickstarts their campaign with a tour of the West Indies. The journey towards the ultimate glory will culminate with an exhilarating final match at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground in 2025. It will elevate the grandeur of this event.
The Road to ICC World Test Championship 2023-25: Teams, Matches, and Series
A total of nine teams will compete in 68 Test matches across 27 series during the two-year-long WTC 2023-2025 cycle. The participating teams include Australia, England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and West Indies. Each team is determined to claim the Test Championship title.
The format of the championship entails each series comprising two to five matches. Every team will play six series—three at home and three away. Among the participating teams, England will play the highest number of Test matches in the third edition of the WTC. The Three Lions will engage in a total of 21 games. India and Australia closely follow with 19 red-ball fixtures each, led by captains Rohit Sharma and Pat Cummins, respectively.
Conversely, Bangladesh, South Africa, and Sri Lanka will have the fewest number of fixtures, participating in 12 games each. Pakistan and the inaugural WTC winners, New Zealand, will play 14 matches apiece. West Indies, known for their flair and passion for the game, will compete in 13 games during this exciting third edition of the WTC.
Also Read: Final list of teams to participate in ICC Men’s World Cup 2023
A Comprehensive Schedule: Team-wise Breakdown
Let’s take a closer look at the detailed schedule for each team in the WTC 2023-2025 cycle:
| Team | Matches | Series 1 | Series 2 | Series 3 | Series 4 | Series 5 | Series 6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| England | 21 | Home series against Australia (5 matches) | Away series against India (5 matches) | Home series against West Indies (3 matches) | Home series against Sri Lanka (2 matches) | Away series against Pakistan (3 matches) | Away series against New Zealand (3 matches) |
| Australia | 19 | Away series against England (5 matches) | Home series against Pakistan (3 matches) | Home series against West Indies (2 matches) | Away series against New Zealand (2 matches) | Home series against India (5 matches) | Away series against Sri Lanka (2 matches) |
| India | 19 | Away series against West Indies (2 matches) | Away series against South Africa (2 matches) | Home series against England (5 matches) | Home series against Bangladesh (2 matches) | Home series against New Zealand (3 matches) | Away series against Australia (5 matches) |
| New Zealand | 14 | Away series against Bangladesh (2 matches) | Home series against South Africa (2 matches) | Home series against Australia (2 matches) | Away series against Sri Lanka (2 matches) | Away series against India (3 matches) | Home series against England (3 matches) |
| Pakistan | 14 | Away series against Sri Lanka (2 matches) | Away series against Australia (3 matches) | Home series against West Indies (2 matches) | Home series against Bangladesh (2 matches) | Home series against England (3 matches) | Away series against South Africa (2 matches) |
| West Indies | 13 | Home series against India (2 matches) | Away series against Australia (2 matches) | Away series against Pakistan (2 matches) | Away series against England (3 matches) | Home series against South Africa (2 matches) | Home series against Bangladesh (2 matches) |
| South Africa | 12 | Home series against India (2 matches) | Away series against New Zealand (2 matches) | Away series against West Indies (2 matches) | Away series against Bangladesh (2 matches) | Home series against Sri Lanka (2 matches) | Home series against Pakistan (2 matches) |
| Sri Lanka | 12 | Home series against Pakistan (2 matches) | Away series against Bangladesh (2 matches) | Away series against England (2 matches) | Home series against New Zealand (2 matches) | Away series against South Africa (2 matches) | Home series against Australia (2 matches) |
| Bangladesh | 12 | Home series against New Zealand (2 matches) | Home series against Sri Lanka (2 matches) | Away series against Pakistan (2 matches) | Away series against India (2 matches) | Home series against South Africa (2 matches) | Away series against West Indies (2 matches) |
World Test Championship 2023-25 Points Table
Below is the updated points table for the World Test Championship 2023-25:
| Team | PCT (%) | Points | Matches Played | Win | Loss | Draw | Penalty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pakistan | 100 | 24 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| India | 66.67 | 16 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Australia | 54.17 | 26 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | -2 |
| England | 29.17 | 14 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | -2 |
| West Indies | 16.67 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Sri Lanka | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Bangladesh | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| New Zealand | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| South Africa | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
An Unforgettable Test Cricket Journey Awaits
The complete schedule of the WTC 2023-2025 cycle guarantees an exhilarating and captivating Test cricket experience for fans worldwide. Every team’s performance and dedication will determine their spot in the final. It is here where they will have the chance to claim the coveted Test Championship title. Get ready to witness breathtaking battles, incredible displays of skill, and memorable moments as the teams embark on their quest for cricketing greatness.