ICC World Test Championship: How It Works, the Points System, and the First Two Finals
The ICC World Test Championship (WTC) was introduced in 2019 to give Test cricket context across a two-year cycle. Teams earn points based on results in bilateral series; standings are calculated as a percentage of available points (to account for different numbers of series). The first WTC final was played at Lord's in June 2021 — New Zealand beat India by 8 wickets. The second final was played at The Oval in June 2023 — Australia beat India by 209 runs. The third cycle ended in 2025.
The ICC World Test Championship (WTC) was conceived to address a longstanding criticism of Test cricket: that bilateral series had no wider competitive context. A series win for India vs England in 2018 meant nothing beyond pride; after WTC, it counted toward a World Championship. The ICC approved WTC in 2016, with the first cycle running from 2019–2021.
How the Points System Works
Each bilateral Test series earns a set number of points for the winner of each match. Points per match: Win = 12 points; Draw/Tie = 4 points; Loss = 0 points. Teams can also lose points for slow over-rate (penalty: 2 points per over short). The standings are calculated as a percentage of available points — not total points — because teams play different numbers of series. Example: if a team plays 6 series (30 Tests) and wins 20, draws 5, loses 5: points = (20×12) + (5×4) = 260. Percentage = 260 / (30×12) = 72.2%. This percentage ranks teams rather than raw points.
The Finals
WTC Final 1 (June 2021, Lord's): New Zealand beat India by 8 wickets. The match was dominated by swing and seam conditions. Kyle Jamieson took 5 wickets; Tim Southee and Neil Wagner also excelled. India (217 and 170) could not match New Zealand's pace attack. WTC Final 2 (June 2023, The Oval): Australia beat India by 209 runs. Travis Head scored 163 off 174 balls — one of the great Test WTC Final innings. India conceded a large first innings lead (386 vs 469). Steve Smith (121) added to Head's dominance. India were bowled out for 234 chasing 444 — an impossible target.
Frequently asked questions
Does the World Test Championship improve the status of Test cricket, and what are its weaknesses?
WTC impact assessment: does it save Test cricket? The WTC was introduced to provide competitive context for Test series — the argument was that Test cricket was declining in viewership partly because bilateral series lacked stakes beyond the series itself. Evidence the WTC has helped: (1) The Finals have generated significant interest. WTC1 (NZ vs India) drew 25,000 to Lord's and a large broadcast audience. WTC2 (AUS vs India) was watched by an estimated 50 million viewers in India. (2) Teams have rotated their squads and managed workloads differently because of WTC standings impact — decisions like whether to rest a key player before a crucial WTC series now have documented consequences. (3) Test cricket viewership has remained relatively stable (not declined sharply) despite T20 growth — some credit the WTC. Weaknesses and criticisms: (1) Schedule imbalance: teams play different numbers of home and away series. India plays the most Test cricket (the most valuable series) and has schedule advantages that guarantee points-earning opportunities. England and Australia (who have the most traditional rivalries between them) play fewer series vs other WTC nations. (2) Qualification is complex: the percentage-of-available-points calculation is opaque — most cricket fans cannot explain why their team is or is not qualifying. (3) Home advantage in qualifying: since each team nominates its home pitches, teams can prepare pitches that maximise their WTC points in home series. (4) The final is the only game that 'counts' in the end — teams that top the standings might still lose the final on a bad pitch (WTC1: India dominated the WTC cycle but lost the final). Whether WTC 'saves' Test cricket is debated — the underlying tension between Test and T20 is economic (broadcast rights), not structural, and no competition format can fix that.