More World Test Championship News
WI vs IND 2019: Sourav Ganguly Blasts India’s Team Selection for the First Test
India are currently playing the first test against West Indies in Antigua. However, the team selection didn't go well with Sourav Ganguly.
Ashes 2019: “They Will be Huge Shoes to Fill,” Joe Root on the Absence of Steve Smith
England are ready to take on Australia in the third Ashes Test. However, Joe Root thinks the absence of Steve Smith will be crucial for Australia.
Ashes 2019: Australia Drop Three Players for the Third Test
Ashes 2019 has been giving surprises with every Test match. Before the game starts, Australia made some major changes in their squad.
Ashes 2019: Jofra Archer Pokes Fun at Steve Smith’s Batting Style
Jofra Archer made sure fans don't miss Smith. He was seen emulating Smith's unique batting style in the nets before the third Ashes Test at Headingley.
Ashes 2019: Steve Smith Not Playing is the Best Thing for David Warner, Says Tim Paine
Steve Smith's exclusion has become a golden opportunity for the opener David Warner who was seen struggling with the bat so far.
Ashes 2019: “You’ve Got to Play on Skill, Not Emotion”: Justin Langer
Everyone knows what can England pacer Jofra Archer is able to do but Australia are certainly not into that competition according to the coach Justin Langer.
Ashes 2019: Trevor Bayliss Backs Jason Roy at the Top Order in Third Test
Although England performed well on the back of debutant Jofra Arche, Ben Stokes and Stuart Broad, opener Jason Roy has been struggling with the bat.
Ashes 2019: “The Game Has Moved On”: Shane Bond
Shane Bond thinks that the Australian selection committee did the right job to leave James Pattinson out of the second Test at Lord's.
SL vs NZ: Kane Williamson and Akila Dananjaya Reported with a Suspect Bowling Action
New Zealand captain Kane Williamson and Sri Lanka spinner Akila Dananjaya have been reported for suspect bowling action, after the first Test.
Ashes 2019: England Leave Out James Anderson for Third Test
England have announced the same squad for the third Ashes Test, starting on Thursday where James Anderson failed to find a place in the squad;
Ashes 2019: Shoaib Akhtar Slams Jofra Archer for His Attitude Towards Steve Smith
Shoaib Akhtar slammed England pacer Jofra Archer for not checking up on injured Steve Smith after his bouncer hit Smith on the neck.
Ashes 2019: “He’s Come in and Made a Massive Impact:” Joe Root on Jofra Archer
Jofra Archer, the name has been in the news for not only his Twitter predictions but also for his deadly bouncers. His bouncer hit Steve Smith in his neck.
About World Test Championship
Introduction
The ICC World Test Championship, run by the International Cricket Council (ICC) is all set to begin its first season in August. The first season will run for two years till June 2021. This will get underway when the recent 50-over World Cup winnner England will take on their arch-rival Australia in the first Test of the Ashes series on August 1 at Edgbaston.
To engage more fans, ICC has started this. With each series, the competition will be sharpened as the end of the championship; a global title will be given to the team who wins this 2-year-long tournament.
History
This is not the first time that ICC has approved the idea. The idea of ICC World Test Championship was approved in 2013 and 2017 as well but that couldn't take place. In 2013, the champions trophy took its place and the idea was re-scheduled for June 2017. The ICC World Test Championship was cancelled once again on January 2014 and the ICC Champions Trophy was reinstated in 2017.
However, in October 2017, it was announced by ICC that a Test league will be played, which would involve the top nine teams. The second ICC World Test Championship will continue from July 2021 to June 2023.
The Process and the Distribution of The Points
The ICC World Test Championship will be played among nine top-ranked Test teams. All the teams will play six series each - three home series and three away series over the two-year span. In this period of time, each team will face six of the other eight teams, although it will not be complete round-robin league. Each of the series will be comprised of two and five Tests, so all the sides wouldn't play the same number of Test series.
No matter, the number of Tests, every series carries 120 points. A team can score 720 points max (six series, 120 points each) over the two-year-long period. The two teams who will have the most points at the end of the tournament will face each other in the final in England, June 2021.
Although the team will play fewer tests, wouldn't be a disadvantage for them in respect to points as the 120 points are available for each series. However, the points will not be available for series results; it will be given for Test results. So the points will be split equally among the five-match Tests in a series.
According to this count, 24 points or 20% will be there for each match. 60 points will be given for a win while 30 points will be given for a tie. On the other hand, 20 points will be given for a draw whereas no points will be given for a loss.
Matches in the Series | Points for a win | Points for a tie | Points for a draw | Points for a loss |
2 | 60 | 30 | 20 | 0 |
3 | 40 | 20 | 13.3 | 0 |
4 | 30 | 15 | 10 | 0 |
| 5 | 24 | 12 | 8 | 0 |
However, Zimbabwe, Ireland and Afghanistan will not be featured in the first edition of the World Test Championship. Although, they will play Tests against one another and also with some of the Championship sides as well. Moreover, there will be Tests series outside the Championship like England tours New Zealand for two Tests in November this year.
What will happen if the final is tied?
If the final Test will tie or drawn, the team who will finish at the top of the table in the two-year-long tournament will be the champion of the championship.
ICC World Cricket Championship 2019 Schedule at a Glance
Ranking | Team | Tests | Home series (against) | Away series (against) | Will not play |
1 | India | 18 | 10 (SA, Ban, Eng) | 8 (WI, NZ, Aus) | Pak & SL |
2 | New Zealand | 14 | 7 (Ind, WI, Pak) | 7 (SL, Aus, Ban) | Eng & SA |
3 | South Africa | 16 | 9 (Eng, SL, Aus) | 7 (Ind, WI, Pak) | Ban & NZ |
4 | England | 22 | 11 (Aus, WI, Pak) | 11 (SA, SL, Ind) | Ban & NZ |
5 | Australia | 19 | 9 (Pak, NZ, Ind) | 10 (Eng, Ban, SA) | SL & WI |
6 | Sri Lanka | 13 | 7 (NZ, Eng, Ban) | 6 (Pak, SA, WI) | Aus & Ind |
7 | Pakistan | 13 | 6 (SL, Ban, SA) | 7 (Aus, Eng, NZ) | Ind & WI |
8 | West Indies | 15 | 6 (Ind, SA, SL) | 9 (Eng, NZ, Ban) | Aus & Pak |
| 9 | Bangladesh | 14 | 7 (Aus, NZ, WI) | 7 (Ind, Pak, SL) | Eng & SA |
