The world’s best Test cricket team is chosen by the ICC World Test Championship (WTC). New Zealand won the first cycle in 2019–2021 after defeating India in the championship match. Australia won the title in the 2021–2023 cycle after defeating India in the championship match. Right now, the 2023–2025 cycle is in progress.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) hosts the esteemed ICC World Test Championship (WTC) every two years to identify the best Test cricket team in the world. The WTC, which spans two-year cycles, seeks to give the game’s longest format more context and excitement.
New Zealand won the title after defeating India in the final of the first edition, which began with the 2019 Ashes series and ended in June 2021. The England-India series kicked off the second edition on August 4, 2021, and it ended in June 2023, with Australia defeating India.
The 2023 Ashes series kicked off the current third edition on June 16, 2023, and the final is scheduled for the summer of 2025.
Notably, South Africa will play Australia, the reigning champions, in the 2025 final at Lord’s. The ICC directly manages the final, highlighting its importance in the cricket calendar, while individual cricket boards plan the league matches.
| Attribute | Details |
| Administrator | International Cricket Council |
| Format | Test cricket |
| First Edition | 2019–2021 |
| Latest Edition | 2023–2025 |
| Next Edition | 2025–2027 |
| Tournament Format | League stage and Final |
| Number of Teams | 9 |
WTC Winners List: Annual Winners and Outcomes:
The International Cricket Council (ICC) hosts the ICC World Test Championship (WTC), a top Test cricket competition. It was introduced in 2019 and consists of nine teams in a league and final format.
The final of the most recent edition (2023–2025) will take place in 2025, and the following cycle will begin in 2025–2027. The list of WTC winners from 2019 to the present is provided here.
| Year(s) | Winner | Runner-Up | Result | Venue |
| 2019-2021 | New Zealand | India | Won by 8 wickets | Rose Bowl, Southampton |
| 2021-2023 | Australia | India | Won by 209 runs | The Oval, London |
| 2023-2025 | TBD | TBD | TBD | Lord’s, London |
Tournament for 2019–2021
The 2019 Ashes series marked the start of the first WTC tournament. Matches were halted in March 2020 because of COVID-19. While some games were canceled or postponed, others resumed in July 2020.
Following the cancellation of Australia’s series against South Africa, New Zealand became the first team to advance to the final. India was eligible as well.
Rose Bowl in Southampton hosted the final from June 18–23, 2021. New Zealand became the first WTC champions after winning on the reserve day after rain interrupted play on two of the days.
Tournament for 2021–2023
The Pataudi Trophy between India and England in August 2021 marked the beginning of the second WTC cycle. A new points system was introduced by the ICC. Australia’s victory in the third Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy guaranteed them a spot in the final.
After Sri Lanka lost to New Zealand, India advanced. The final was held at The Oval in London from June 7–11, 2023. Australia won their first WTC title after defeating India by 209 runs.
Tournament for 2023–2025
On June 16, 2023, the first Ashes Test kicked off the third WTC cycle. The ICC declared that Lord’s will host the final in the summer of 2025.
Upcoming Final (2023-2025)
- Teams: Australia vs. South Africa
- Venue: Lord’s, London
- Dates: June 11-15, 2025
Key Performances 2019–2021: Kyle Jamieson was named Player of the Match, and Kane Williamson led New Zealand to victory.
Australia was captained by Pat Cummins in 2021–2023, and Travis Head won Player of the Match for his century.
Every two-year cycle of the ICC World Test Championship, which has been in place since 2019, ends with a final match between the top two teams in the rankings. The competition seeks to give Test cricket, the game’s longest format, more structure and excitement.
When is the next event for the ICC World Test Championship?
The dates of the upcoming ICC World Test Championship (WTC) cycle are set for June 2025–2027. Key information regarding the forthcoming event is as follows:
2025-2027 ICC World Test Championship Overview
- Format: There will be 71 league stage matches and 27 series in the tournament. Six series, consisting of two to five Test matches per series, will be played by each team, three of which will be played at home and three away.
- Teams: Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, and the West Indies are the nine ICC full-member nations that will play.
- Points System: The points system remains unchanged from previous editions:
- Win: 12 points
- Tie: 6 points each
- Draw: 4 points each
- Loss: 0 points
Teams will be ranked based on the percentage of total points won.
India’s WTC 2025–2027 Series schedule
India is prepared to regroup and try to make amends in the fourth edition of this esteemed tournament following a dismal 2023–25 campaign finale. India’s new journey will start soon after the WTC final, which is set for June 11–15. All the information you require is provided here.
| Series | Opponent | Venue | Schedule |
| 1 | England | Away | June 20-24, 2025 – Headingley, LeedsJuly 2-6, 2025—Edgbaston, BirminghamJuly 10-14, 2025 – Lord’s, LondonJuly 23-27, 2025 – Old Trafford, ManchesterJuly 31-August 4, 2025—The Oval, London |
| 2 | West Indies | Home | October 2025 (Exact dates TBD) |
| 3 | South Africa | Home | November-December 2025 (Exact dates TBD) |
| 4 | Sri Lanka | Away | August 2026 (Exact dates TBD) |
| 5 | New Zealand | Away | October-November 2026 (Exact dates TBD) |
| 6 | Australia | Home | January-February 2027 (Exact dates TBD) |
WTC 2025–2027: Timetable & Outcomes
The full schedule for the first three Australia-West Indies Test series in 2025 is as follows, per ESPN:
| Date | Match | Venue | Teams | Time (IST) | Time (GMT) | Time (Local) | Status |
| Wed, 25 Jun 2025 | 1st Test | Bridgetown | West Indies vs Australia | 7:30 PM | 2:00 PM | 10:00 AM | Match yet to begin |
| Thu, 03 Jul 2025 | 2nd Test | St George’s | West Indies vs Australia | 7:30 PM | 2:00 PM | 10:00 AM | Match yet to begin |
| Sat, 12 Jul 2025 | 3rd Test | Kingston | West Indies vs Australia | 8:30 PM | 3:00 PM | 10:00 AM | Match yet to begin |
The High-Stakes Test Series Between India and England in 2025
An exciting five-match Test series in England marks the start of India’s 2025 campaign. This high-stakes match, which takes place from June 20 to August 4, will reignite the historic rivalry that ended in a 2-2 draw during India’s 2021 tour. India will have to contend with swing-friendly conditions, a perennial test of their abilities, when they play at iconic locations like Lord’s and The Oval.
Final Game
In June 2027, Lord’s Cricket Ground will host the 2025–2027 ICC World Test Championship final.
