How the ICC World Test Championship Works — Points, PCT & Road to the Final
The World Test Championship crowns the best Test team in cricket over a two-year cycle. Learn how the PCT points system works, who qualifies for the final, and where the 2025–27 cycle stands.
The ICC World Test Championship (WTC) is cricket's answer to a Test league — a two-year rolling competition that involves all twelve Full Member nations and culminates in a five-day final between the top two ranked teams. Before the WTC launched in 2019, Test cricket had no formal league structure: series were bilateral arrangements with no cumulative championship context. The WTC gave each Test result consequence beyond the immediate series.
How points are awarded
Each Test series in the WTC cycle is worth 120 points in total, distributed across the matches played in that series. A two-match series is worth 60 points per Test; a five-match series is worth 24 points per Test. A win earns the full value for that match; a draw earns each team roughly half; a loss earns nothing. Ties are treated the same as draws.
Why PCT (percentage points) instead of total points?
Teams play different numbers of Test series across a cycle — some boards play more home series, others play fewer Tests due to scheduling or tours being cancelled. Ranking purely by points accumulated would unfairly favour teams who play more matches. Instead, the ICC uses PCT (percentage of available points won): points earned divided by points available, expressed as a percentage. A team that wins 90 points from 120 available has a PCT of 75%, regardless of whether a rival has played more or fewer series.
The WTC Final
The two teams with the highest PCT at the end of the qualification window meet in a five-day Test final held at a neutral venue. Lord's Cricket Ground in London has hosted multiple WTC Finals, and the 2025–27 cycle final is scheduled there for mid-2027. The final is a standalone Test match — if the result is a draw or the match is affected by rain, a reserve day is available. There is no tiebreaker other than the reserve day: if the match ends drawn, the title is shared.
The 2025–27 WTC cycle
The current cycle began in June 2025 and runs until approximately April 2027, with the final at Lord's in mid-2027. Every bilateral Test series between Full Members in this window contributes to the standings. Major series in the cycle include England vs Australia (Ashes), India home series, Pakistan's tours, New Zealand's full international programme, and series across the Caribbean, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Zimbabwe, and Afghanistan. The qualification picture crystallises in the final months of the cycle as remaining series are played out.
Frequently asked questions
How does PCT work in the World Test Championship?
PCT is the percentage of available points a team has won. Each series is worth 120 points. A team earns points for wins and draws, then divides that by the total points available to them to get a percentage. This levels the field between teams who play different numbers of series.
How many teams play in the WTC?
All twelve ICC Full Member nations — Australia, England, India, Pakistan, New Zealand, South Africa, West Indies, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Zimbabwe, Afghanistan, and Ireland — participate in the WTC cycle.
Where is the 2027 WTC Final?
The WTC 2025–27 Final is scheduled at Lord's Cricket Ground in London.
What happens if the WTC Final is a draw?
A reserve day is built into the schedule. If the match still ends in a draw after the reserve day, the WTC title is shared between the two finalists.
Who won the first two World Test Championships?
New Zealand won the inaugural WTC Final (2019–21), defeating India at The Ageas Bowl in Southampton. Australia won the second WTC Final (2021–23), defeating India at The Oval in London.