Quick Answer
The ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2025–27 cycle began in June 2025 and concludes with a Final at Lord's Cricket Ground in June 2027. Twelve Test nations participate, earning points across bilateral series. The WTC has given every Test match global relevance and determines the official World Test Champion.
What Is the World Test Championship?
The ICC World Test Championship is a two-year league competition in which all twelve Test-playing nations earn points by winning, drawing, or losing Test matches in scheduled bilateral series. At the end of each cycle, the top two teams meet in a Final — currently held at Lord's — to determine the World Test Champion.
The competition was introduced in 2019 to give Test cricket a global context — a reason for every bilateral series to matter beyond the series result alone. (Source: ICC – WTC official page )
How Points Are Awarded
Points are awarded per match result, not per series:
- Win: 12 points
- Draw: 4 points
- Tie: 6 points
- Loss: 0 points
- Point Deductions: Points are deducted for slow over rates.
- Ranking: Teams are ranked based on the percentage of points won (PCT).
- Finals: The top two teams at the end of the league stage will qualify for the 2027 final.
Standings are calculated using PCT — Percentage of Points Won — dividing points earned by points available. This ensures teams that play more series are not unfairly advantaged.
Your guide to the new World Test Championship
WTC 2025–27: Key Series
The 2025–27 cycle features all major bilateral Test series including:
- India vs England (home and away)
- Australia vs India ( Border-Gavaskar Trophy )
- England vs Australia ( The Ashes , 2027 — final major series before the Final)
- South Africa vs Pakistan
- New Zealand vs West Indies
- Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh
The cycle concludes in May 2027, with the WTC Final scheduled at Lord's in June 2027.
ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 Points Table
| Pos | Team | Played | Won | Lost | Draw | Ded | Points | Pct |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Australia | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 36 | 100 |
| 2 | Sri Lanka | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 16 | 66.67 |
| 3 | India | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 28 | 46.67 |
| 4 | England | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 26 | 43.33 |
| 5 | Bangladesh | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 16.67 |
| 6 | West Indies | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 7 | New Zealand | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 8 | Pakistan | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 9 | South Africa | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Previous WTC Finals
| Cycle | Final Venue | Winner | Runner-Up | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019–21 | Southampton | New Zealand | India | NZ won by 8 wickets |
| 2021–23 | The Oval | Australia | India | AUS won by 209 runs |
| 2023–25 | Lord's | South Africa | Australia | SA won by 6 wickets |
South Africa's 2025 victory was their first major ICC title since the 1998 Champions Trophy . (Source: ESPNcricinfo – WTC history )
Why the WTC Matters for Test Cricket
Before the WTC, Test series were bilateral — important within themselves but carrying no global stakes. The WTC changed this: every dropped catch, every declaration, every rain delay now has PCT implications that echo across the two-year championship table.
Critics argue the PCT system still advantages teams with easier schedules. But the consensus across cricket media and administrators is that the WTC has revitalised Test cricket's relevance in an increasingly T20-dominated landscape.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the ICC World Test Championship?
The WTC is a two-year league competition between all twelve Test-playing nations. Points are earned through bilateral Test match results, and the top two teams at the end of each cycle meet in a Final to determine the World Test Champion.
Who has won the World Test Championship?
New Zealand won the inaugural WTC Final in 2021 (beating India). Australia won in 2023 (beating India). South Africa won in 2025 (beating Australia at Lord's ).
How are WTC points calculated?
Teams earn 12 points for a win, 4 for a draw, and 6 for a tie. Standings are determined by PCT — the percentage of available points actually won — ensuring fairness across schedules of different lengths.
When is the next WTC Final?
The WTC 2025–27 cycle Final is scheduled for June 2027 at Lord's Cricket Ground in London.
Which countries participate in the WTC?
All twelve Test-playing nations: England, Australia, India, Pakistan, South Africa, New Zealand, West Indies, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Zimbabwe, Ireland, and Afghanistan.
