The Proteas concluded the 2023-25 World Test Championship (WTC) cycle at the pinnacle of the league table, securing victories in eight of their 12 test matches, achieving one draw, and succumbing to three losses.
Meanwhile, Australia secured the second position, distinguishing themselves as the sole nation to remain undefeated throughout the six series in which they competed. Following India’s forfeiture of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series to Australia and a disconcerting series whitewash on their home turf by New Zealand, they forfeited their opportunity to compete in the WTC final.
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The primary objective of the WTC is to provide additional context to bilateral test cricket. Each match within a series contributes points, ensuring that every game carries significance. The World Test Championship Final is considered the apex of the longest format of the game, analogous to the role of the World Cup in both the ODI and T20I formats.
Participation in the WTC is limited to the top nine teams in the ICC Men’s Test Team rankings: Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, and the West Indies. These teams have consistently participated in the WTC and are also slated to be included in the 2025-27 cycle.
The last two cycles of the WTC have been won by New Zealand in 2021 and Australia in 2023, with India being the runner-up in both finals.
England has hosted both WTC finals, which have been immensely successful in terms of attendance. Reports indicate that the 2023 edition, contested between India and Australia at The Oval, particularly experienced sell-out crowds. Several reasons explain why England has been the chosen host for both finals.
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By GlobalDataOne significant factor is the country’s rich heritage and the historical significance of test cricket. Additionally, the final is scheduled in June, which falls during England’s summer and offers more predictable weather compared to other cricketing nations, where matches could be at a higher risk of disruption due to rain or adverse weather conditions.
Time zones play a significant role in determining why England serves as the host; the broadcasting rights and viewership are crucial components of any major cricket event. By selecting England as the venue, the match timings correspond well with the prime viewing hours in cricket-enthusiast nations, such as India and other countries in the subcontinent.
This synchronization facilitates optimal global viewership and enhances the commercial value of the WTC final. Furthermore, England offers an extensive infrastructure of stadiums, hotels, and transportation systems, ensuring the seamless execution of the test match.
India’s failure to qualify for this year’s final has led to complications concerning ticket pricing. Initially, the MCC established premium ticket prices for the WTC final, anticipating that India’s participation would trigger a surge in ticket sales. However, once it became evident that India would not qualify, the MCC proactively reduced ticket prices in response to the expected decrease in demand – prices for adults started at £45 ($61).
It was expected that Lord’s may have lost almost £4 million ($5.43 million) in revenue just from India not qualifying. The MCC has previously faced criticism for its expensive ticket prices at Lord’s. For instance, last summer, during England’s test series against Sri Lanka, only 9,000 fans attended the fourth day of the match. This low turnout prompted the MCC to implement changes to its pricing strategy.
The issue of attendance was not the sole concern; the potential decline in viewership due to India’s absence also warranted attention. A staggering 126 million viewers tuned into Star Sports’ live broadcast of the 2023 WTC final between India and Australia.
This figure not only represents the highest reach ever recorded for a test match but also marks a 32% increase over the viewership of the previous ICC WTC final in 2021, which featured India and New Zealand. India contributes significantly to the revenue generated by international cricket, as well as to the viewership and overall interest in the sport.
In light of India’s significant influence on global cricket, there have been proposals indicating the country’s interest in hosting the WTC Final in 2027. An Indian bid would have considerable ramifications for England’s summer cricket schedule and could pose logistical challenges for the ICC, especially given the geopolitical tensions between India and Pakistan.
Additionally, should India fail to qualify for the final, there is a concern that ticket sales may suffer. The 2025 final is anticipated to be highly successful, with expectations of sold-out crowds for at least the first four days, despite England’s absence from the event. It is clear that if India were to both qualify and serve as the host nation, the event would likely be a sell-out, significantly enhancing revenue for the ICC.
The ongoing tensions between India and Pakistan are expected to introduce further complexities. The two nations have not participated in a bilateral series since January 2013. Nevertheless, they continue to compete in men’s and women’s T20 and 50-over World Cups, provided the matches occur at neutral venues.
In the hypothetical scenario where India and Pakistan both progress to the final, the match would not be held in India. As a result, this circumstance would effectively disqualify India from hosting the final.
There are deeper questions which have been raised regarding the WTC on the whole; firstly, does the WTC final even reflect the best two teams over two years? And does the competition need restructuring?
Under the existing system, each match in the WTC is valued at 12 points for a victory, 6 points for a tie, and 4 points for a draw. However, it appears that the ‘big three’—Australia, India, and England—are at a disadvantage as they engage in more matches against one another compared to other cricketing nations.
For instance, is it equitable that South Africa reached the WTC final without facing either Australia or England? This contrasts with England, who have competed against both India and Australia during the two-year cycle. South Africa’s series victories over the West Indies, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka, coupled with a draw against India and a defeat in India, accrued sufficient points for the Proteas to secure a place in the final.
England have been hit heavily by over-rate penalties and have lost 22 points throughout the 2023-2025 cycle. Without these penalties, England’s win percentage of 51.5 during this period was third behind the finalists.
Recent discussions have centred on the potential restructuring of test cricket into a two-tier system, as opposed to its current format, which might be expanded to encompass additional nations. The proposal entails the incorporation of Afghanistan, Ireland, and Zimbabwe, resulting in two divisions, each comprising six teams, rather than maintaining a single division of nine.
The ICC has determined that a more comprehensive evaluation period is necessary to fully understand the financial ramifications such a change would have on test cricket. It has been proposed that, should this restructuring be approved, it could be implemented during the 2027-2029 cycle.
Currently, the WTC is fulfilling its intended purpose—to enhance the significance and appeal of test cricket in an era predominantly influenced by franchise cricket. The structure of the competition will undoubtedly require adjustments in the coming years, potentially including the addition of more teams and a revision of the over-rate penalty system.
However, the potential ramifications of relocating the final to India, coupled with the excessive dependence on India’s participation for the event’s success, present an unacceptably high risk. England has demonstrated its capability as a successful host, with cricket stadiums consistently reaching full capacity, regardless of whether the home team is playing.
The outlook for the WTC beyond the 2025-2027 cycle is currently unclear, with the possibility of substantial modifications to its format. Nevertheless, considering the significance that winning the WTC holds for the players, we, as fans, should also place a high value on its outcome.
