2021–2023 ICC World Test Championship

The 2021–2023 ICC World Test Championship is the second edition of the ICC World Test Championship of Test cricket. It started on 4 August 2021 and is scheduled to finish on 31 March 2023. The venue for the final is yet to be announced.

The five-match Pataudi Trophy between England and India started 4 August 2021 began the second cycle of the World Test Championship. That series along with the Ashes, in December 2021, will be the only two series comprising five Tests in the second WTC cycle. New Zealand are the defending champions.

Format

The tournament will be played over two years, with 69 matches over 27 series scheduled for the league stage from which the top two teams will advance to a final. Each team is scheduled to play six series, with three at home and three away. Each series will consist of two to five Test matches. Each participant will play between 12 and 22 matches. Each match is scheduled for a duration of five days.

Points system

The points system was changed from the previous edition. In this edition, 12 points would be available each match regardless of how many matches there are in a series. A win is worth all 12 points, a tie is worth 6 points each, a draw is worth 4 points each, and a loss is worth 0 points. A team that was behind the required over rate at the end of a match would have one point deducted for each over it was behind. As in the previous edition, teams are ranked in the league table based on percentage of total points won out of total points contested.

Points system
Match result Points earned Points contested Percentage of points won
Win 12 12 100
Tie 6 12 50
Draw 4 12 33.33
Loss 0 12 0
Points available per series
Matches in series Total points available
2 24
3 36
4 48
5 60

Participants

The nine full members of the ICC who will participate are:

  •  Australia
  •  Bangladesh
  •  England
  •  India
  •  New Zealand
  •  Pakistan
  •  South Africa
  •  Sri Lanka
  •  West Indies

The three full members of the ICC who are not eligible to participate:

  •  Afghanistan
  •  Ireland
  •  Zimbabwe

Schedule

The schedule for the World Test Championship was announced by the International Cricket Council (ICC) on 20 June 2018, as part of the 2018–2023 Future Tours Programme. Rather than being a full round-robin tournament in which everyone played everyone else equally, each team played only six of the other eight as in the previous cycle.

Home \ Away Australia Bangladesh England India New Zealand Pakistan South Africa Sri Lanka Cricket West Indies
Australia  4–0 3 matches 2 matches
Bangladesh  2 matches 0–2 2 matches
England  1–2 (4)* 3 matches 3 matches
India  4 matches 1–0 2–0
New Zealand  1–1 1–1 2 matches
Pakistan  0–1 3 matches 2 matches
South Africa  2 matches 2–1 2 matches
Sri Lanka  2 matches 2 matches 2–0
West Indies  2 matches 1–0 1–1
Updated to match(es) played on 27 March 2022. Source: The numbers in parenthesis are the number of matches played in the series. The numbers in square brackets are the number of matches in the series.
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
Notes:
  1. ^ Test Series Postponed, 5th match was originally scheduled to be played from 10 to 14 September 2021 at Old Trafford, but was rescheduled to 1 July 2022 at Edgbaston due to COVID-19 cases in the Indian camp
Team Scheduled matches Was not scheduled to play against
Total Home Away
 Australia 19 10 9  Bangladesh and  New Zealand
 Bangladesh 12 6 6  Australia and  England
 England 22 11 11  Bangladesh and  Sri Lanka
 India 18 8 10  Pakistan and  West Indies
 New Zealand 13 6 7  Australia and  West Indies
 Pakistan 14 8 6  India and  South Africa
 South Africa 15 7 8  Pakistan and  Sri Lanka
 Sri Lanka 12 6 6  England and  South Africa
 West Indies 13 7 6  India and  New Zealand

League stage

League table

Pos. Team Series Matches Con. Pts. Ded. Pct. RpW Ratio
P W L D P W L D T
1  Australia 2 2 0 0 8 5 0 3 0 96 72 0 75.00 1.466
2  South Africa 2 1 0 1 5 3 2 0 0 60 36 0 60.00 0.976
3  India 4* 2 1 0 11 6 3 2 0 132 77 3 58.33 1.281
4  Pakistan 3 1 1 1 7 3 2 2 0 84 44 0 52.38 1.306
5  Sri Lanka 2 1 1 0 4 2 2 0 0 48 24 0 50.00 0.865
6  New Zealand 3 0 1 2 6 2 3 1 0 72 28 0 38.88 0.996
7  West Indies 3 1 1 1 7 2 3 2 0 84 30 2 35.71 0.806
8  Bangladesh 2 0 1 1 4 1 3 0 0 48 12 0 25.00 0.543
9  England 3* 0 2 0 12 1 7 4 0 144 18 10 12.50 0.775
Source: International Cricket Council, ESPNcricinfo
Last updated: 27 March 2022
  • *Ongoing series
  •   Denotes teams in the position to qualify for the final

2021

Pataudi Trophy (England v India)

4–8 August 2021
Match 1
England 
183 (65.4 overs)
&
303 (85.5 overs)
v
 India
278 (84.5 overs)
&
52/1 (14 overs)
Match drawn
Trent Bridge, Nottingham
Points: England 2, India 2.
12–16 August 2021
Match 2
India 
364 (126.1 overs)
&
298/8d (109.3 overs)
v
 England
391 (128 overs)
&
120 (51.5 overs)
India won by 151 runs
Lord’s, London
Points: India 12, England 0.
25–29 August 2021
Match 5
India 
78 (40.4 overs)
&
278 (99.3 overs)
v
 England
432 (132.2 overs)
England won by an innings and 76 runs
Headingley, Leeds
Points: England 12, India 0.
2–6 September 2021
Match 6
India 
191 (61.3 overs)
&
466 (148.2 overs)
v
 England
290 (84 overs)
&
210 (92.2 overs)
India won by 157 runs
The Oval, London
Points: India 12, England 0.
1–5 July 2022
England 
v
 India
TBD
Edgbaston, Birmingham

West Indies v Pakistan

12–16 August 2021
Match 3
Pakistan 
217 (70.3 overs)
&
203 (83.4 overs)
v
 West Indies
253 (89.4 overs)
&
168/9 (56.5 overs)
West Indies won by 1 wicket
Sabina Park, Jamaica
Points: West Indies 12, Pakistan 0.
20–24 August 2021
Match 4
Pakistan 
302/9d (110 overs)
&
176/6d (27.2 overs)
v
 West Indies
150 (51.3 overs)
&
219 (83.2 overs)
Pakistan won by 109 runs
Sabina Park, Jamaica
Points: Pakistan 12, West Indies 0.

2021–22

Sobers–Tissera Trophy (Sri Lanka v West Indies)

21–25 November 2021
Match 7
Sri Lanka 
386 (133.5 overs)
&
191/4d (40.5 overs)
v
 West Indies
230 (85.5 overs)
&
160 (79 overs)
Sri Lanka won by 187 runs
Galle International Stadium, Galle
Points: Sri Lanka 12, West Indies 0.
29 November – 3 December 2021
Match 10
Sri Lanka 
204 (61.3 overs)
&
345/9d (121.4 overs)
v
 West Indies
253 (104.2 overs)
&
132 (56.1 overs)
Sri Lanka won by 164 runs
Galle International Stadium, Galle
Points: Sri Lanka 12, West Indies 0.

India v New Zealand

25–29 November 2021
Match 8
India 
345 (111.1 overs)
&
234/7d (81 overs)
v
 New Zealand
296 (142.3 overs)
&
165/9 (98 overs)
Match drawn
Green Park Stadium, Kanpur
Points: India 4, New Zealand 4.
3–7 December 2021
Match 11
India 
325 (109.5 overs)
&
276/7d (70 overs)
v
 New Zealand
62 (28.1 overs)
&
167 (56.3 overs)
India won by 372 runs
Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
Points: India 12, New Zealand 0.

Bangladesh v Pakistan

26–30 November 2021
Match 9
Bangladesh 
330 (114.4 overs)
&
157 (56.2 overs)
v
 Pakistan
286 (115.4 overs)
&
203/2 (58.3 overs)
Pakistan won by 8 wickets
Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, Chittagong
Points: Pakistan 12, Bangladesh 0.
4–8 December 2021
Match 12
Pakistan 
300/4d (98.3 overs)
v
 Bangladesh
87 (32 overs)
&
205 (84.4 overs) (f/o)
Pakistan won by an innings and 8 runs
Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Dhaka
Points: Pakistan 12, Bangladesh 0.

The Ashes (Australia v England)

8–12 December 2021
Match 13
England 
147 (50.1 overs)
&
297 (103 overs)
v
 Australia
425 (104.3 overs)
&
1/20 (5.1 overs)
Australia won by 9 wickets
The Gabba, Brisbane
Points: Australia 12, England –8.[25]
16–20 December 2021 (D/N)
Match 14
Australia 
9/473d (150.4 overs)
&
9/230d (61 overs)
v
 England
236 (84.1 overs)
&
192 (113.1 overs)
Australia won by 275 runs
Adelaide Oval, Adelaide
Points: Australia 12, England 0.
26–30 December 2021
Match 15
England 
185 (65.1 overs)
&
68 (27.4 overs)
v
 Australia
267 (87.5 overs)
Australia won by an innings and 14 runs
Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne
Points: Australia 12, England 0.
5–9 January 2022
Match 19
Australia 
8/416d (134 overs)
&
6/265d (68.5 overs)
v
 England
294 (79.1 overs)
&
9/270 (102 overs)
Match drawn
Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
Points: Australia 4, England 4.
14–18 January 2022 (D/N)
Match 22
Australia 
303 (75.4 overs)
&
155 (56.3 overs)
v
 England
188 (47.4 overs)
&
124 (38.5 overs)
Australia won by 146 runs
Bellerive Oval, Hobart
Points: Australia 12, England 0.

The Freedom Series (South Africa v India)

26–30 December 2021
Scorecard
India 
327 (105.3 overs)
&
174 (50.3 overs)
v
 South Africa
197 (62.3 overs)
&
191 (68 overs)
India won by 113 runs
Centurion Park, Centurion
Points: India 11, South Africa 0.
3–7 January 2022
Scorecard
India 
202 (63.1 overs)
&
266 (60.1 overs)
v
 South Africa
229 (79.4 overs)
&
243/3 (67.4 overs)
South Africa won by 7 wickets
Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg
Points: South Africa 12, India 0.
11–15 January 2022
Scorecard
India 
223 (77.3 overs)
&
198 (67.3 overs)
v
 South Africa
210 (76.3 overs)
&
212/3 (63.3 overs)
South Africa won by 7 wickets
Newlands Cricket Ground, Cape Town
Points: South Africa 12, India 0.

New Zealand v Bangladesh

1–5 January 2022
Scorecard
New Zealand 
328 (108.1 overs)
&
169 (73.4 overs)
v
 Bangladesh
458 (176.2 overs)
&
42/2 (16.5 overs)
Bangladesh won by 8 wickets
Bay Oval, Tauranga
Points: Bangladesh 12, New Zealand 0.
9–13 January 2022
Scorecard
New Zealand 
521/6d (128.5 overs)
v
 Bangladesh
126 (41.2 overs)
&
278 (79.3 overs) (f/o)
New Zealand won by an innings and 117 runs
Hagley Oval, Christchurch
Points: New Zealand 12, Bangladesh 0.

New Zealand v South Africa

17–21 February 2022
Scorecard
South Africa 
95 (49.2 overs)
&
111 (41.4 overs)
v
 New Zealand
482 (117.5 overs)
New Zealand won by an innings and 276 runs
Hagley Oval, Christchurch
Points: New Zealand 12, South Africa 0.
25 February–1 March 2022
Scorecard
South Africa 
364 (113 overs)
&
354/9d (100 overs)
v
 New Zealand
293 (80 overs)
&
227 (93.5 overs)
South Africa won by 198 runs
Hagley Oval, Christchurch
Points: South Africa 12, New Zealand 0.

India v Sri Lanka

4–8 March 2022
Scorecard
India 
574/8d (129.2 overs)
v
 Sri Lanka
174 (65 overs)
&
178 (60 overs) (f/o)
India won by an innings and 222 runs
Punjab Cricket Association Stadium, Mohali
Points: India 12, Sri Lanka 0.
12–16 March 2022 (D/N)
Scorecard
India 
252 (59.1 overs)
&
303/9d (68.5 overs)
v
 Sri Lanka
109 (35.5 overs)
&
208 (59.3 overs)
India won by 238 runs
M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru
Points: India 12, Sri Lanka 0.

Benaud-Qadir Trophy (Pakistan v Australia)

4–8 March 2022
Scorecard
Pakistan 
476/4d (162 overs)
&
252/0 (77 overs)
v
 Australia
459 (140.1 overs)
Match drawn
Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi
Points: Pakistan 4, Australia 4.
12–16 March 2022
Scorecard
Australia 
556/9d (189 overs)
&
97/2d (22.3 overs)
v
 Pakistan
148 (53 overs)
&
443/7 (171.4 overs)
Match drawn
National Stadium, Karachi
Points: Pakistan 4, Australia 4.
21–25 March 2022
Scorecard
Australia 
391 (133.3 overs)
&
227/3d (60 overs)
v
 Pakistan
268 (116.4 overs)
&
235 (92.1 overs)
Australia won by 115 runs
Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
Points: Australia 12, Pakistan 0.

Richards–Botham Trophy (West Indies v England)

8–12 March 2022
Scorecard
England 
311 (100.3 overs)
&
349/6d (88.2 overs)
v
 West Indies
375 (157.3 overs)
&
147/4 (70.1 overs)
Match drawn
Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Antigua
Points: England 4, West Indies 2.
16–20 March 2022
Scorecard
England 
507/9d (150.5 overs)
&
185/6d (39.5 overs)
v
 West Indies
411 (187.5 overs)
&
135/5 (65 overs)
Match drawn
Kensington Oval, Barbados
Points: West Indies 4, England 4.
24–28 March 2022
Scorecard
England 
204 (89.4 overs)
&
120 (64.2 overs)
v
 West Indies
297 (116.3 overs)
&
28/0 (4.5 overs)
West Indies won by 10 wickets
National Cricket Stadium, Grenada
Points: West Indies 12, England 0.

South Africa v Bangladesh

31 March – 4 April 2022
Match 33
South Africa 
v
 Bangladesh
Kingsmead Cricket Ground, Durban
8–12 April 2022
Match 34
South Africa 
v
 Bangladesh
St George’s Park, Gqeberha

2022[edit]

Bangladesh v Sri Lanka

May 2022
Bangladesh 
v
 Sri Lanka
May 2022
Bangladesh 
v
 Sri Lanka

West Indies v Bangladesh

June 2022
West Indies 
v
 Bangladesh
June 2022
West Indies 
v
 Bangladesh

Warne–Muralitharan Trophy (Sri Lanka v Australia)

29 June – 3 July 2022
Sri Lanka 
v
 Australia
Galle International Stadium, Galle
8–12 July 2022
Sri Lanka 
v
 Australia
Galle International Stadium, Galle

England v New Zealand

2–6 June 2022
Scorecard
England 
v
 New Zealand
Lord’s, London
10–14 June 2022
Scorecard
England 
v
 New Zealand
Trent Bridge, Nottingham
23–27 June 2022
Scorecard
England 
v
 New Zealand
Headingley, Leeds

Sri Lanka v Pakistan

July 2022
Sri Lanka 
v
 Pakistan
July 2022
Sri Lanka 
v
 Pakistan

Basil D’Oliveira Trophy (England v South Africa)

17–21 August 2022
Scorecard
England 
v
 South Africa
Lord’s, London
25–29 August 2022
Scorecard
England 
v
 South Africa
Old Trafford, Manchester
8–12 September 2022
Scorecard
England 
v
 South Africa
The Oval, London

2022–23

Sir Vivian Richards Trophy (South Africa v West Indies)

October 2022
South Africa 
v
 West Indies
October 2022
South Africa 
v
 West Indies

Border–Gavaskar Trophy (India v Australia)

October 2022
India 
v
 Australia
October 2022
India 
v
 Australia
October 2022
India 
v
 Australia
October 2022
India 
v
 Australia

Ganguly–Durjoy Trophy (Bangladesh v India)

November 2022
Bangladesh 
v
 India
November 2022
Bangladesh 
v
 India

Frank Worrell Trophy (Australia v West Indies)

November 2022
Australia 
v
 West Indies
December 2022
Australia 
v
 West Indies

Pakistan v England

November 2022
Pakistan 
v
 England
November 2022
Pakistan 
v
 England
December 2022
Pakistan 
v
 England

New Zealand v Sri Lanka

November 2022
New Zealand 
v
 Sri Lanka
December 2022
New Zealand 
v
 Sri Lanka

Pakistan v New Zealand

December 2022
Pakistan 
v
 New Zealand
December 2022
Pakistan 
v
 New Zealand

Australia v South Africa

December 2022
Australia 
v
 South Africa
January 2023
Australia 
v
 South Africa
January 2023
Australia 
v
 South Africa

Statistics

Individual statistics

The top 5 players in each category are listed.

Most runs

Runs Player Mat Inns NO Avg HS 100s 50s
1,175 England Joe Root 12 23 1 53.40 180* 5 4
751 Australia Usman Khawaja 5 9 3 125.16 160 4 2
682 Pakistan Babar Azam 7 12 1 62.00 196 1 5
604 England Jonny Bairstow 9 18 1 37.75 140 2 1
602 Cricket West Indies Kraigg Brathwaite 7 14 1 50.16 160 1 4
Last updated : 28 March 2022

Most wickets

Wkts Player Mat Inns Runs Overs BBI BBM Avg 5WI 10WM
40 India Jasprit Bumrah 9 17 746 292.5 5/24 9/110 18.65 3 0
37 Pakistan Shaheen Afridi 7 13 667 238.3 6/51 10/94 18.02 2 1
33 Australia Pat Cummins 7 14 649 236.5 5/38 8/79 19.66 2 0
32 England Ollie Robinson 8 15 729 272.4 5/65 7/81 22.78 2 0
30 South Africa Kagiso Rabada 5 9 600 187.1 5/60 5/106 20.00 1 0
India Mohammed Shami 8 15 716 230.5 5/44 8/107 23.86 1 0
Last updated : 25 March 2022

Highest individual score

Runs Batsman Balls 4s 6s Opposition Ground Match date
252 New Zealand Tom Latham 373 34 2  Bangladesh Christchurch 9 January 2022
196 Pakistan Babar Azam 425 21 1  Australia Karachi 12 March 2022
185 Pakistan Azhar Ali 361 15 3 Rawalpindi 4 March 2022
180* England Joe Root 321 18 0  India London 12 August 2021
175* India Ravindra Jadeja 228 17 3  Sri Lanka Mohali 4 March 2022
Last updated: 17 March 2022

Best bowling figures in an innings

Figures Bowler Overs Mdns Econ Opposition Ground Match date
10/119 New Zealand Ajaz Patel 47.5 12 2.48 India India Mumbai 3 December 2021
8/42 Pakistan Sajid Khan 15.0 4 2.80 Bangladesh Bangladesh Dhaka 4 December 2021
7/23 New Zealand Matt Henry 15.0 7 1.53 South Africa South Africa Christchurch 17 February 2022
7/61 India Shardul Thakur 17.5 3 3.42 Johannesburg 3 January 2022
7/116 Bangladesh Taijul Islam 44.4 9 2.59 Pakistan Pakistan Chittagong 26 November 2021
Last updated: 18 February 2022

Best bowling figures in a match

Figure Bowler Overs Mdns Opposition Ground Match date
14/225 New Zealand Ajaz Patel 73.5 15 India India Mumbai 3 December 2021
12/128 Pakistan Sajid Khan 47.4 12 Bangladesh Bangladesh Dhaka 4 December 2021
11/136 Sri Lanka Ramesh Mendis 59.2 14 Cricket West Indies West Indies Galle 29 November 2021
10/94 Pakistan Shaheen Shah Afridi 34.5 12 Kingston 20 August 2021
9/55 New Zealand Matt Henry 26.0 11 South Africa South Africa Christchurch 17 February 2022
Last updated: 19 February 2022

Best batting average

Average Batsman Matches Innings Runs HS NO 100s 50s
62.00 Pakistan Babar Azam 7 12 682 196 1 1 5
53.40 England Joe Root 12 23 1,175 180* 1 5 4
50.16 Cricket West Indies Kraigg Brathwaite 7 14 602 160 1 1 4
47.22 Australia Travis Head 7 10 425 152 1 2 1
45.85 South Africa Temba Bavuma 5 10 321 52 3 0 2
Qualification: Minimum 10 innings. Last updated: 28 March 2022

Best bowling averages

Average Bowler Matches Wkts Runs Balls BBI BBM
15.00 South Africa Lungi Ngidi 3 15 225 502 6/71 8/102
15.27 Sri Lanka Ramesh Mendis 2 18 275 644 6/70 11/136
16.14 New Zealand Matt Henry 2 14 226 510 7/23 9/55
16.58 India Axar Patel 3 12 199 541 5/62 6/85
18.00 India Ravichandran Ashwin 7 29 522 1,419 4/8 8/42
Qualification: Minimum 500 deliveries bowled Last updated: 25 March 2022

Team statistics

Highest team totals

Score Team Overs RR Inns Opposition Venue Date
574/8d  India 129.2 4.44 1 Sri Lanka Sri Lanka Mohali 5 March 2022
556/9d  Australia 189.0 2.94 1  Pakistan Karachi 12 March 2022
521/6d  New Zealand 128.5 4.04 1  Bangladesh Christchurch 9 January 2022
507/9d  England 150.5 3.36 1  West Indies Bridgetown 16 March 2022
482  New Zealand 117.5 4.10 2  South Africa Christchurch 17 February 2022
(d=declared) Last Update: 21 March 2022

Lowest team totals

Score Team Overs RR Inns Opposition Venue Date
62  New Zealand 28.1 2.20 2  India Mumbai 3 December 2021
68  England 27.4 2.45 3  Australia Melbourne 26 December 2021
78  India 40.4 1.91 1  England Leeds 25 August 2021
87  Bangladesh 32.0 2.71 2  Pakistan Dhaka 4 December 2021
95  South Africa 49.2 1.92 1  New Zealand Christchurch 17 February 2022
Last Update: 18 February 2022