World Test Championship Explained: Format, Points and Finals
How the ICC World Test Championship works: the two-year cycle, how points and percentages are awarded, who reaches the final and the first two finals.
The ICC World Test Championship is a competition that gives Test series a wider meaning. Rather than treating each series in isolation, it ranks the leading Test nations in a single table over a two-year cycle, with the top two teams meeting in a final to decide the champions. It was introduced to bring context to Test cricket after years of debate about how to keep the format relevant.
Why it was created
Test matches had long been played in bilateral series, with no official world championship. The idea of a Test championship was discussed for years, but plans were delayed for logistical reasons. The International Cricket Council finally launched the first World Test Championship cycle in 2019, in the hope that every series would count towards something.
How the cycle works
The competition runs over roughly two years and is played in the form of bilateral Test series. The nine leading Test nations take part, namely Australia, England, India, South Africa, New Zealand, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, West Indies and Bangladesh. Each team plays six series, three at home and three away, though not all teams face each other, and series vary in length from two to five matches.
Points and percentages
In the first cycle, points were awarded per series. Since then, teams have been ranked by the percentage of possible points they won. Under the system used since the second cycle, a win earns twelve points, a tie six and a draw four. Because series differ in length, the percentage of points a team actually earned out of those available determines its position in the table. Teams can also be penalised for slow over rates, which results in deductions.
The final
The top two teams in the table after the cycle meet in a final, played as a single Test match over five days with a reserve day. The winner receives the Test Championship mace.
The first two finals
The first final was played at the Rose Bowl in Southampton in June 2021, where New Zealand beat India by eight wickets. The second final took place at The Oval in London in June 2023, where Australia beat India by 209 runs. Later cycles and finals are not covered in this guide, which is current to the end of 2024.
Criticisms and debates
The competition has been praised for giving series more meaning, but it has also been criticised. Teams do not play the same number of matches against each other, and the difference in series lengths means some sides have an easier schedule than others. The percentage system was introduced partly to address that, but debate over fairness continues. The omission of Ireland, Zimbabwe and Afghanistan from the nine-team table has also drawn comment.
How to follow it
The table updates after each match, and a team’s chances depend on results elsewhere. Supporters should check the percentage of points rather than just points won, and look at the matches remaining. Even a draw can matter, since it earns some points.
What it has changed
The Championship has changed how teams approach Tests, with more emphasis on results rather than draws and a sense that every match matters. It has also brought attention to series between smaller teams that might otherwise have passed with little notice. Overall it has added an extra layer of competition to the oldest format.
Frequently asked questions
How many teams play in the World Test Championship?
Nine of the leading Test nations take part. Ireland, Zimbabwe and Afghanistan are not part of the league table.
How are teams ranked?
Teams are ranked by the percentage of available points they win. A win earns twelve points, a tie six and a draw four, and slow over rates can result in deductions.
Who won the first two finals?
New Zealand beat India in the first final in 2021, and Australia beat India in the second in 2023.