ICC World Test Championship (WTC)
Cricket is more than just a game in India—it’s a way of life, and nothing gets the adrenaline pumping like the ICC World Test Championship (WTC). As the ultimate showdown in Test cricket, the WTC sees the top teams in the world battling it out over two years for the coveted title. For Indian fans, it’s a cultural phenomenon, with every series, every session, and every ball scrutinized and celebrated. From the high-stakes clashes like India vs. Australia to the electrifying atmosphere in the stands and online forums, the WTC isn’t just a tournament—it’s an epic saga that captures the passion and spirit of Indian cricket. Launched on August 1, 2019. It is meant to be the top competition for Test cricket. Australia was the winner of the 2021-2023 edition, which was the 2nd edition of this event. The final of the current edition (2023-2025) is hosted by England.
Introduction
The International Cricket Council (ICC) launched the ICC World Test Championship, a league tournament for Test cricket, on August 1, 2019. It is meant to be the top competition for Test cricket. It is in keeping with the ICC's vision of having one peak competition for each of the three formats of international cricket. The competition was originally scheduled to take place in 2009 and replace the ICC Champions Trophy in 2013. It was moved to June 2017, and a second Test championship was scheduled for February–March 2021 in India. The three-match Test championship was played by the top four teams as of December 31, 2016, the ICC's cutoff date. After two semi-final matches, the winners participated in the final. Nonetheless, the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy replaced the 2014 ICC World Test Championship in January 2014.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) announced in October 2017 that its members had decided on a Test league that would see the top nine countries compete in series over two years, with the top two teams qualifying for a World Test League Championship Final that will be recognized as an ICC event. The WTC league matches were not recognized as ICC events, and the host nation's cricketing authority had the exclusive television rights, not ICC. Also, the WTC finals were classified as an ICC event in contrast to the league-stage games.
In June 2021, New Zealand won the championship trophy after defeating India, capping off the inaugural ICC World Test Championship, which had started with the 2019 Ashes series.
It is also an opportunity for gamblers to place their bets on different teams and players. As India is one of the markets for online sportsbooks that are expanding, bettors commonly opt to wager on the national sport of the country. People also bet in other countries on this format of cricket.
For our readers who prefer Hindi, you can also access this ICC World Test Championship article in Hindi (आईसीसी विश्व टेस्ट चैंपियनशिप हिंदी समीक्षा). The ICC World Test Championship has become a significant event in the world of cricket, showcasing the ultimate battle among the top teams in the longest format of the game. Whether you're following the latest updates on the ongoing season or seeking the best betting options, IndiaBetMaster.com provides comprehensive insights and guidance. You’ll find all the information you need about the current season and the top betting brands, ensuring you're well-equipped for making informed choices during this thrilling tournament.
Type: Test Cricket
Title Holder: Australia
First Edition: 2019-2021
Last Edition: 2021-2023
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Current Season
The second edition of the ICC World Test Championship for Test cricket took place from 2021 to 2023. It started on August 4th, 2021, and culminated on June 7th–11th, 2021, with the Final at The Oval in London. The second round of the World Test Championship began on August 4, 2021, with the five-match Pataudi Trophy versus England and India. That series, as well as the Ashes in December 2021, have been the only two series comprising five (5) Tests in the 2nd WTC cycle. The current winners were New Zealand. The World Test Championship final for this season played at The Oval in June 2023, the International Cricket Council (ICC) announced in September 2022.
The previous edition had a different points system. In this version, regardless of how many matches made up a series, 12 points were available for each match. A victory was awarded a maximum of 12 points, while a tie, a draw, and a defeat were each worth 6, 4, and 0 points, respectively. A team that was behind the acceptance rate at the end of a match would have one point deducted for each over it was behind. The league table's team rankings were determined, like in the previous edition, by the ratio of total points earned to total points contested.
The schedule for the World Test Championship was released by the International Cricket Council (ICC) on 20 June 2018, as part of the 2018–2023 Future Tours Programme. Each team has played only six (6) of the other eight (8) teams, as opposed to all 16 teams playing each other equally as in the previous cycle's round-robin tournament. The final took place in The Oval in London, England, from June 7 to June 11, 2023, between Australia & India. Australia won the World Test Championship (2021-23).
The first Ashes Test was held on June 16, 2023, to kick off the WTC 2023–25 season. It was formally declared by the International Cricket Council that the 2025 World Test Championship final will take place at Lord's in the summer.
The 2023-2025 ICC World Test Championship (WTC) is an exciting edition with several noteworthy updates and intense competition. This cycle, which runs from June 2023 to June 2025, is the third edition of the WTC and brings some intriguing matchups and challenges for the top cricketing nations. Notably, this season marks Australia's defense of their title, having won the previous edition by defeating India in the final.
A significant feature of this edition is the grueling schedule that includes several high-stakes series, such as the ongoing rivalry between India and Australia, which will culminate in a five-match Test series in Australia (also refer to as the Border-Gavaskar Trophy), which will take place between November 22nd, 2024, to January 7th, 2025. This season also sees strategic alterations in points distribution and qualification scenarios, making every match critical. For example, a single Test loss can drastically affect a team's chances of making it to the final, as seen with Australia's unexpected draw against the West Indies and Pakistan’s valiant but ultimately unsuccessful tour of Australia.
From a cultural and fan engagement perspective, the ICC World Test Championship continues to draw significant attention, especially in cricket-loving nations like India, where passionate crowds and a growing betting culture around Test cricket are expected to drive massive viewership and engagement. Key sponsors, such as Coca-Cola and DP World, are enhancing their involvement, making this cycle not just a sporting event but a major commercial spectacle.
For Indian cricket fans and bettors, India Bet Master offers comprehensive coverage and insights into the ICC World Test Championship, providing top reviews, betting tips, and detailed match analyses that can help you stay ahead of the game. With the WTC final set to be held at Lord’s in June 2025, this season promises to be a thrilling journey to crown the next Test cricket champions.
| Date | Stage | Team 1 | Team 2 | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12-07-2023 | International Test | West Indies | India | 150 & 130 - 421/5d |
| 20-07-2023 | International Test | India | West Indies | 438 & 181/2d - 255 & 76/2 |
| 26-12-2023 | Freedom Trophy | India | South Africa | 245 & 131 - 408 |
| 03-01-2024 | Freedom Trophy | South Africa | India | 55 & 176 - 153 & 80/3 |
| 25-01-2024 | Anthony de Mello Trophy | England | India | 246 & 420 - 436 & 202 |
| 02-02-2024 | Anthony de Mello Trophy | India | England | 396 & 255 - 253 & 292 |
| 15-02-2024 | Anthony de Mello Trophy | India | England | 445 & 430/4d - 319 & 122 |
| 23-02-2024 | Anthony de Mello Trophy | England | India | 353 & 145 - 307 & 192/5 |
| 07-03-2024 | Anthony de Mello Trophy | India | England | 477 - 218 & 195 |
| 19-09-2024 | Ganguly Durjoy Trophy | India | Bangladesh | - |
| 27-09-2024 | Ganguly Durjoy Trophy | India | Bangladesh | - |
| 16-10-2024 | International Test | India | New Zealand | - |
| 24-10-2024 | International Test | India | New Zealand | - |
| 01-11-2024 | International Test | India | New Zealand | - |
| 22-11-2024 | Border-Gavaskar Trophy | Australia | India | - |
| 06-12-2024 | Border-Gavaskar Trophy | Australia | India | - |
| 14-12-2024 | Border-Gavaskar Trophy | Australia | India | - |
| 26-12-2024 | Border-Gavaskar Trophy | Australia | India | - |
| 03-01-2025 | Border-Gavaskar Trophy | Australia | India | - |
| 03-06-2025 | Final | Final (Team 1) | Final (Team 2) | - |
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Previous Seasons
Throughout the tournament's two-year duration, 69 games split across 27 series were planned for the league stage, from which the top two teams progressed to the championship game. Each team was slated for six series, with three at home & three away. There were two to five Test matches in each series. Each player took part in 12 to 22 games. Five days were allotted for each match's duration.
During the ICC Chief Executives' conference in April 2012, it was announced that the ICC Champions Trophy will be last conducted in 2013 with the inaugural Test Championship play-offs being slated for June 2017. The Champions Trophy will no longer be held since the Cricket World Cup is the main competition for 50-over cricket, according to the ICC, which stated that there would only be one trophy for each version of the game. The final might have maintained the classic timeless test format. Further modifications in the structure of the championship were further discussed. Nevertheless, the 2017 ICC World Test Championship was dropped and replaced with the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy in January 2014.
The 2019 Ashes series marked the start of the inaugural event. Because of the COVID-19 epidemic, competitions were halted in March 2020. They did not resume until July 2020, and several series of matches were eventually postponed or canceled. After it was announced that the series between South Africa & Australia would not continue, New Zealand became the first side to qualify for the final, followed by India. India and New Zealand squared off in the first World Test Championship Final from June 18 to June 23 at Southampton's Rose Bowl in England. Rain ruined the first and fourth days of the championship match, but New Zealand prevailed in the final session of the reserve day to win the inaugural World Test Championship trophy.
Beginning in August 2021 with the Pataudi Trophy, the WTC 2021–23 cycle (5 matches series between India and England). The whole program and new points system were formally unveiled by the International Cricket Council. Australia advanced to the final by winning the 3rd Test Match of the 2022–23 Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Sri Lanka's failure to win the opening game of their series in New Zealand allowed India to advance. The final is slated to take place in The Oval in London, England, from June 7 to June 11, 2023.
The first Ashes Test will kick off the WTC 2023–25 season on June 16, 2023. The World T20 final will be contested at Lord's in the summer of 2025, according to an official announcement from the International Cricket Council.
History & Structure
This tournament was initially proposed in 2009 when the ICC met the MCC to talk about organizing a Test match competition. Martin Crowe, a former captain of New Zealand, was one of the major minds behind this idea. In July 2010 ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat recommended a quadrennial event with the four best-ranked teams playing in the semi-finals and a final, to reinvigorate waning interest in the longest version of the sport. The first competition was intended to take the place of the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy in Wales and England.
The ICC Chief Executives' Committee discussed the notion of a Test championship during a meeting at their head office located in Dubai in the middle of September 2010. Colin Gibson, a spokesman for the ICC, said that much more information will be revealed after the conference and that Lord's would be the preferred final venue if the competition were to be held in England. As predicted, the ICC accepted the concept and confirmed that the inaugural tournament will be staged in Wales and England in 2013. Also, the tournament's structure was disclosed. All ten current Test cricket participating countries (Australia, West Indies, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Pakistan, England, New Zealand, India, Zimbabwe, and Bangladesh) would play in the inaugural league stage over four years.
The top four teams from the league stage advance to the playoffs, where the winner of the Test cricket championship will be determined. There was some disagreement over whether the top four teams or the top eight teams would compete in the play-off, but the board unanimously decided on the latter. Also, it was declared that the competition will take the place of the ICC Champions Trophy. Concerning how to resolve ties in knockout stage matches, no decision had been made.
Nevertheless, the ICC said in 2011 that the Test Championship would not occur until 2017 and that the 2013 event would be scrapped due to board-wide financial issues and its obligation to sponsors and broadcasters. England and Wales, the initial hosts of this postponed tournament, were granted the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy rather, than the tournament that the Test Championship was meant to replace. The ICC was criticized by both Greg Chappell & Graeme Smith for delaying the Test Championship, claiming that doing so was improper and unjustifiable. According to The Guardian, Lord's, which was supposed to host the final, was hurt by this postponement.
The largest prize for the game's longest format is the ICC (WTC). To provide each nation that participates in Test cricket a supreme prize to fight for as they compete in bilateral series, the World Test Championship was established. Being the victors of the first event, Australia is the defending champion after defeating India in the WTC final.
Compared to test cricket, the limited-overs forms have attracted greater attention and a wider audience of gamblers. To offer the game's oldest form a viewpoint and a fresh start with the WTC, the ICC proactively developed a championship. Test cricket will continue to be your first passion if you are a game purist. All of this creates an interesting prospect for the spectators, viewers, and bettors who attempt to anticipate the outcome of the game beforehand as the odds makers create the odds indicating the best team to win in the particular circumstance.
Final Thoughts
To offer the format a fresh direction, the idea of an ICC tournament made up of Test matches was originally put out in 2009. Several ICC and individual cricket board officials then offered advice on how to run this competition. To revive interest in the longest format of the game, ICC CEO Haroon Lorgat proposed a four-team tournament in July 2010 where the top four rated teams would compete in a quadrennial event that included semifinals and finals. Till then a total of 9 teams participate in the game and the top 4 qualify for this championship.
This tournament has proved to be a good event as it revived the interest of cricket lovers in the longest format of the game. The defending champions of the ICC World Test Championship are Australia. However, the new season of WTC 2023-25 is going on and the venue is London.
Bet Smart on the ICC World Test Championship: Your Guide to Legal and Engaging Cricket Betting
The ICC World Test Championship (WTC) has rapidly become a favorite for cricket bettors in India, offering thrilling matches and diverse betting opportunities. As we are in the final stages of the 2023-2025 season, there’s never been a better time to engage with this prestigious tournament. With exciting changes like more competitive matchups and refined points systems, the WTC offers bettors a unique chance to capitalize on informed predictions and strategic bets.
Is Betting on the ICC World Test Championship Legal in India? Yes, you can legally bet on the WTC in India, but there are a few guidelines to follow. While online betting regulations vary by state, Indian bettors can lawfully place bets on cricket matches using international betting sites. The key is to choose platforms that are based outside India and are regulated by reputable authorities, ensuring a secure and fair betting experience.
For those eager to bet on the WTC, IndiaBetMaster.com is an ideal resource. We do not only offer comprehensive information about the WTC but also provides reviews of top-rated betting sites, ensuring you have all the tools needed to place your bets confidently and legally.
What’s New and Better This Season? The upcoming WTC season brings more excitement with highly anticipated series, including India’s tour of Australia, which promises to be a betting bonanza. With changes in team strategies and the potential for upsets, this season offers more dynamic betting opportunities than ever before. Whether you’re betting on individual match outcomes, series results, or player performances, the WTC is set to deliver high-stakes action.
Did You Know
