The ICC World Test Championship is a league competition that is open to teams of Test cricket. The tournament was launched on August 1, 2019 and is regarded as the best cricket tournament in the world. The world test championship underwent a variety of changes. The first one is the overhaul of the Points system.
In 2023, the Oval will host the Timeless Test
One of the most important cricket matches will return to the Oval. The Oval was the home of the Ashes, 1880. The Oval hosts the premier Test team around the globe. The World Test Championship final will be held at the Oval in 2023. The match will be played before the five-match Ashes series.
Test cricket has experienced major changes. Tests will no longer be limited to a specific number of days. This format allows for matches to be played until one side wins or the match draws. The format means that the teams cannot play defensively to draw. Furthermore, the format means that delays and bad weather should not affect the outcome of the match.
Points system overhauled
After much criticism from the ICC during its first cycle, the World Test Championship points system underwent a major overhaul. The current system was perceived as too complex, disorganised. The new system will reward and punish wins based on percentages, instead of series. These changes are permanent and will be effective for the next cycle.
In August, the World Test Championship points system was introduced. According to the new rules, each team will receive a percentage of points for winning games and will be ranked accordingly. This system will be used for the bi-lateral series which began in 2021, 2023.
Future editions are planned at these venues
The International Cricket Council, (ICC), announced the dates for the World Test Championship finals. The Oval in London will host the final of the 2023 World Test Championship, while Lord's will host the final of the 2025 tournament. Lord's will host the 2021 World Test Championship.
The Oval has long been touted as a possible venue for the World Test Championship finals. But the Covid-19 pandemic made the Oval unsuitable for the finals last year. The match was instead played in the bio-secure Ageas Bowl. Lord's commercial deals were also suspected to be problematic. The ICC requires a clean environment for sponsors and partners. Surrey might be an alternative if Lord's cannot be found.