world test championship

October 7, 2025 3:14 PM

South Africa begin WTC title defence with target on their back

South Africa captain Aiden Markram says his side can expect to have a target on their back when they begin a new cycle of the World Test Championship as defending champions. South Africa play a two-test series in Pakistan, starting on Sunday, and two games in India in November as they bid to retain the trophy they won in June by beat Australia by five wickets at Lord's. The World Test Championship is decided at the end of a two-year cycle, with the top two teams competing in a one-off five-day...

August 7, 2025 5:12 PM

Time to move on from South Africa’s WTC win: Kagiso Rabada

South Africa’s leading paceman Kagiso Rabada says it is time to move on from the euphoria of beating Australia in the World Test Championship final wile admitting a belated major trophy success has come as a relief to his team. Rabada will lead South Africa’s attack as they take on Australia in three Twenty20 clashes and three one-day Internationals starting in Darwin on Sunday. "I think it was special, and I've done so many interviews on that since," Rabada said of South Africa’s victor...

July 21, 2025 10:58 AM

ECB to host next three World Test Championship finals till 2031, ICC says

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) will continue to host the biennial final of the World Test Championship for the next three editions till 2031, global governing body ICC said on Sunday. The match, which crowns the world champions in the longest format of the sport, has been held in England since it was introduced, with Southampton hosting the first edition in 2021 and the two subsequent finals taking place in London. “We are absolutely delighted that England and Wales has been chose...

July 16, 2025 12:50 PM

England fined, docked two WTC points for slow over rate at Lord’s

England were docked two World Test Championship (WTC) points and fined 10% match fees on Wednesday for their slow over rate in the third test against India at Lord's. The hosts went 2-1 up in the five-test series with a thrilling 22-run victory but were found two overs short of target in a match where the Dukes ball went out of shape several times and had to be replaced. "England captain Ben Stokes pled guilty to the offence and accepted the proposed sanction, so there was no need for a formal...

June 16, 2025 12:40 PM

World Test Championship format needs revamping despite riveting final

A riveting World Test Championship final between Australia and South Africa went a long way to boost the sagging credentials of the five-day game, but the format of the competition is in need of a revamp, according to many of the game’s top observers. South Africa beat Australia by five wickets at lunch on the fourth day of a fluctuating contest at Lord's in which the bowlers dominated the opening two days. A total of 24 wickets were taken, but the tables were turned as wickets turned benign ...

June 14, 2025 8:07 PM

South Africa shed ‘chokers’ tag, clinch historic World Test Championship title

South Africa won the World Test Championship on Saturday, completing a remarkable turnaround to beat Australia by five wickets as they successfully chased down an imposing 282-run target. But it was an edgy finish as they took 27.4 overs to slowly score the 69 runs needed to secure success on the fourth day at Lord’s after resuming at 213-2 overnight. In so doing, South Africa completed a successful pursuit of the joint second-highest winning fourth-innings total in test history at the Londo...

May 15, 2025 2:59 PM

World Test Championship winners to get $3.6 million as ICC bumps up prize money

The winners of next month’s World Test Championship (WTC) final between Australia and South Africa will take home $3.6 million following a significant increase in the prize money by the governing International Cricket Council on Thursday. Holders Australia pocketed $1.6 million for winning the 2023 WTC final against India, who claimed $800,000 as runners-up. The losers of the June 11-15 test at Lord’s will get $2.1 million – more than the winners’ purse in the last two WTC finals. “...

May 13, 2025 4:07 PM

South Africa name Rabada in World Test Championship final squad

South Africa has included Kagiso Rabada in their squad for the World Test Championship final against Australia at Lord's from June 11-15, following the fast bowler's return from a suspension having tested positive for a banned substance. Rabada spent a month on the sidelines at the Indian Premier League after testing positive for a recreational drug at this year's SA20 competition. He is likely to lead the fast-bowling attack with seamers Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi a...

May 13, 2025 10:56 AM

Cricket-Australia’s Green, Cummins and Hazlewood return for World Test Championship final

Australia named all-rounder Cameron Green in their 15-man squad on Tuesday for the World Test Championship (WTC) final, where they will face South Africa at Lord's from June 11-15. Green was diagnosed with a stress fracture in his lower back during the one-day international series in England last year and had surgery in October, but returned to playing for Gloucestershire in English county cricket last month. Skipper Pat Cummins, who missed the tour of Sri Lanka due to the birth of his second ...

March 4, 2025 4:23 PM

South Africa, New Zealand seek limited-overs silverware in rare showdown

South Africa will re-embark on an agonising quest for their first piece of ICC silverware since 1998 when they face New Zealand in Wednesday's semi-final of the Champions Trophy in Lahore, the scene of a high-scoring tussle between the duo last month. The pair have faced each other in the 50-over format just twice since 2019 - most recently in Lahore in a Tri-Series fixture on February 10. South Africa batted first and posted 304 for six, but their inexperienced bowling line-up could not conta...