 | |
| Administrator | International Cricket Council |
|---|---|
| Format | Test cricket |
| First edition | 2019–2021 |
| Latest edition | 2021–2023 |
| Next edition | 2025–2027 |
| Tournament format | League and Final |
| Number of teams | 9 |
| Current champion |  Australia(1st title) |
| Most successful | Australia New Zealand(1 title each) |
| Most runs |  Joe Root (4,973) |
| Most wickets | Nathan Lyon (187) |
 2023–2025 | |
| Tournaments |
|---|
The ICC World Test Championship, also referred to as the Test World Cup, is the international championship of Test cricket. It is a league competition run by the International Cricket Council (ICC), with its inaugural season starting in 2019.[1][2] In line with the ICC's goal of having one pinnacle tournament for each of the three formats of international cricket, it is the premier championship for Test cricket.[3] Australia are the current champions, having defeated India in the 2023 final. India have played in each WTC final, finishing runners-up in both.
WTC league games are not considered ICC events and the broadcasting rights are held by the host nation's cricketing board, not the ICC. WTC finals are ICC events. The inaugural ICC World Test Championship started with the 2019 Ashes series and finished with New Zealand lifting the trophy after defeating India in the final in June 2021. The second ICC World Test Championship started on 4 August 2021 with the Pataudi Trophy series[4] and finished with Australia lifting the trophy after defeating India in the final in June 2023. The third ICC World Test Championship started on 16 June 2023 with the 2023 Ashes series and will conclude with the finals in England in the summer of 2025.
- ^ "Schedule for inaugural World Test Championship announced". International Cricket Council.
- ^ Ramsey, Andrew (20 June 2018). "Aussies to host Afghans as part of new schedule". cricket.com.au.
- ^ "Test Championship to replace Champions Trophy". Cricinfo. 29 June 2013.
- ^ "England vs India to kick off the second World Test Championship". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 29 June 2021.