ICC World Test Championship 2025 Archives

India’s WTC final hopes ‘extremely slim,’ says former cricketer

Former India opener Aakash Chopra has expressed serious doubts over the national team’s chances of reaching the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2025–27 final, following a crushing 0-2 series defeat to South Africa.

The Proteas sealed the series in Guwahati with a commanding 408-run victory, ending a 25-year wait for a Test series win on Indian soil and leaving India reeling on the points table.

The back-to-back defeats mark India’s fourth loss in the current WTC cycle, dropping them to fifth place with a points percentage of 48.15.

With just nine Tests remaining in the cycle, India are not scheduled to play another Test until they tour Sri Lanka in August 2026.

Their remaining fixtures include an away series in New Zealand and a five-Test home series against Australia in 2027.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra admitted that India’s qualification scenario looks bleak.

He highlighted the improbability of a 5-0 home sweep against Australia, which would be necessary to significantly boost India’s points tally.

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“We’re currently fifth in the WTC standings, and I don’t believe we’ll make it to the final. If we qualify, it will be a miracle,” Chopra said.

“We have an upcoming series against Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka, New Zealand in New Zealand, and then five Tests against Australia at home.

“Winning all five matches against Australia seems almost impossible. With less than 50 percent of the points, it’s not looking great for us.”

South Africa’s series triumph propelled them to second place with a points percentage of 75, while Australia continue to lead the table with a perfect 100 percent, having won all four of their matches.

Sri Lanka occupy third with 66.67 percent, followed by Pakistan at 50 percent.

India now face a steep challenge, needing to win the majority of their remaining fixtures just to have a realistic chance of making the WTC final in 2027.

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‘We’ve finally broken the curse’: South Africa spinner reflects on historic WTC triumph

South Africa left-arm wrist spinner Tabraiz Shamsi has reflected on the Proteas’ maiden ICC World Test Championship (WTC) title.

The Proteas lifted their first WTC mace with a five-wicket win, anchored by Aiden Markram’s sensational fourth-innings century.

The opener’s 136 earned him the Player of the Match award, while Kagiso Rabada’s fiery nine-wicket haul proved instrumental in dismantling Australia across both innings.

Held from June 11 to 14, the final of the third WTC cycle saw an extraordinary 2.94 billion minutes of TV watch-time on Star Sports, reaching an audience of 47 million viewers nationwide, a staggering milestone for a Test that didn’t feature the Indian team.

The match also sparked massive engagement online, clocking 225 million digital views, matching the numbers from the previous WTC Final between India and Australia at The Oval in 2023.

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During an interview with a sports platform, Shamsi, who played two Tests for the Rainbow Nation, hailed South Africa’s victory and praised Temba Bavuma’s leadership for ending the title drought.

“Definitely, it was very, very special even for guys who were not part of the triumph. You know, South African cricket had a history of heartbreaks in major tournaments,” he said.

“So, just to watch the guys and finally break the curse was really an emotional moment, and I think it’s the first of many, many trophies that South Africa is going to win in the future,” Tabraiz Shamsi added.

The spinner who was not part of the winning squad hailed Temba Bavuma’s leadership.

“Yes, he is a little man with a big heart, and he is very calm in his demeanour and the way he speaks and communicates, Tabraiz Shamsi said of Bavuma.

Tabraiz Shamsi also eyed the 2026 T20 World Cup, stating that the South Africa team is his priority.

“Obviously, playing for the country will always be a priority, and I am fully available for South Africa,” the 35-year-old stated.

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Here’s why players, umpires are wearing black armbands in WTC final

LONDON: Players from South Africa and Australia, along with umpires and officials, were seen wearing black armbands during the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2025 final at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground on Friday.

A day earlier, more than 200 people were killed in a devastating Ahmedabad plane crash when a London-bound Air India plane carrying 242 people crashed shortly after takeoff. The crash marked one of the worst disasters in a decade.

Before the start of play on day three of the WTC final, umpires, match officials, and players from both teams observed a one-minute silence, wearing black armbands in a demonstration of unity with the victims of the Ahmedabad plane crash.

Australia set South Africa 282 to win, after Mitchell Starc’s vigil 58* on the third day.

Australia started the proceedings on day three of their second innings with a score of 144 for 8, leading by 218 runs with Nathan Lyon (1) and Mitchell Starc (16) on the crease.

Australia began day three of their second innings with a score of 144 for 8, leading by 218 runs with Nathan Lyon (1) and Mitchell Starc (16) on the crease.

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It was the third over of the morning when South Africa pacer Kagiso Rabada trapped Lyon lbw, who could only add one run to his overnight score.

With an early wicket, the Proteas could soon wrap up Australia’s innings; however, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood forged a vital 59-run partnership which took the title holders into a commanding position.

Starc was the lead aggressor, reaching his 11th Test half-century while Hazlewood held firm at one end. The duo frustrated South Africa, scoring at 3.13 in an over.

Both players helped Australia stretch the lead past the 250-run mark, making it an uphill task for South Africa’s batters in the WTC final.

The partnership was finally broken just before lunch as Hazlewood was caught off Aiden Markram’s bowling. He scored 17 off 53 deliveries while Starc remained unbeaten on 58* off 136 balls.

For South Africa, it was Kagiso Rabada again, taking four wickets while Lungi Ngidi chipped in with three wickets.

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Pat Cummins shatters multiple records with six-fer in WTC final

LONDON: Australia captain Pat Cummins broke a plethora of records after claiming six wickets on the second day of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25 final against South Africa here at The Lord’s.

Cummins’ fiery spell bundled out South Africa for a modest 138-run score, which helped the defending champions secure a healthy 74-run lead.

With his outstanding figures of six for 28, Pat Cummins reached the 300-wicket mark, making him the eighth Australian to achieve this feat.

Most Test wickets for Australia

Shane Warne – 708 wickets in 145 matches

Glenn McGrath – 563 wickets in 124 matches

Nathan Lyon – 533 wickets in 133* matches

Mitchell Starc – 384 wickets in 97* matches

Dennis Lillee – 355 wickets in 70 matches

Mitchell Johnson – 313 wickets in 73 matches

Brett Lee – 310 wickets in 76 matches

Pat Cummins – 300 wickets in 68* matches

The right-arm pacer’s bowling figures in the WTC final were also the best by a Test captain at the Lord’s Cricket Ground.

Pat Cummins became the first captain in history to take a five-wicket haul in an ICC final, and he now holds the record for the most five-wicket hauls as a skipper in Test cricket.

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Additionally, the Sydney-born pacer also surpassed his compatriot Mitchell Starc in claiming the most wickets in ICC finals

Most Wickets In ICC Finals

Player	Wickets
Pat Cummins	12
Mitchell Starc	11
Mohammed Shami	10
Trent Boult	8
Ravindra Jadeja	8
Kyle Jamieson	8

The star pacer also surpassed India’s pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah for most wickets in the WTC 2023-25 cycle. Pat Cummins now has 79 wickets, going past Bumrah’s tally of 77 wickets.

At the time of filing this report, Australia were 115-7 in their second innings with a lead of 189 runs.

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WTC Final: Australia edge ahead of South Africa on another topsy-turvy day

LONDON: Australia nosed ahead of South Africa despite suffering a dramatic collapse on another 14-wicket day in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2025 final here at Lord’s Cricket Ground on Thursday.

Australia concluded day two of their second innings with a score of 144 for 8, leading by 218 runs. Nathan Lyon (1) and Mitchell Starc (16) remained not out at the end of the day’s play.

After the tea break, South Africa’s fast bowlers took charge, dismantling the Australian batting lineup and claiming five wickets in quick succession.

Steve Smith (13) and the struggling Marnus Labuschagne (22) were dismissed, leaving Australia at 48 for 4, although their lead had already surpassed the 100-run mark.

Travis Head (9) and first innings top scorer Beau Webster (9) were both removed in consecutive overs, bringing skipper Pat Cummins to the crease.

Unfortunately, he fell shortly after, contributing just six runs to the total. This sudden collapse left the defending champions in a precarious position at 73 for 7.

However, Mitchell Starc and Alex Carey provided much-needed stability, forming a 61-run partnership that helped take Australia’s lead past the 200-run mark.

Carey played a counter-attacking innings, scoring 43 runs before being trapped LBW.

Starc ended the day unbeaten, partnering with Nathan Lyon as night fell on the second day of the WTC Final.

For South Africa, Kagiso Rabada was a standout performer, claiming three wickets, while Lungi Ngidi matched him with three of his own.

Cautious Start

Earlier, Australia’s openers began their innings cautiously after securing a 74-run lead in the first innings.

Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne weathered the new ball well, facing off for 10 overs.

Australia’s steady progress was interrupted when Kagiso Rabada struck twice in an over, dismissing Khawaja and Cameron Green within the span of two deliveries.

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Khawaja was caught behind for six runs, while Green went without scoring, leaving Australia at 28 for 2 after just 10.4 overs.

Marnus Labuschagne showed some resilience with his 16 runs, while Steve Smith remained unbeaten on four at the tea break.

Earlier, Australia’s captain Pat Cummins delivered an outstanding bowling performance, taking six wickets and skittling South Africa for just 138 runs after lunch. This stellar display ensured that Australia maintained a solid 74-run first-innings lead.

South Africa’s First Innings

South Africa began their innings at 43 for 4 in 22 overs, with skipper Temba Bavuma and David Bedingham building a crucial 64-run partnership despite early setbacks on day one.

Australia made a vital breakthrough before lunch, dismissing Temba Bavuma, who was caught by Marnus Labuschagne after contributing a gritty 36 runs from 84 balls, helping his side reach a total of 94 in 39.2 overs.

Despite David Bedingham’s efforts to stabilise the innings, South Africa struggled to build momentum. By lunchtime, Bedingham was not out on 39, while Kyle Verreynne had 11 runs off 30 balls, as the scorecard read 121 for 5.

Like Australia on day one, South Africa suffered a dramatic collapse post-lunch, adding only 17 runs to their total. David Bedingham emerged as a silver lining for South Africa, contributing a resilient 45 runs that included six fours.

For Australia, Pat Cummins was the standout bowler, capturing six wickets, while Mitchell Starc added two more to his tally.

Day One WTC Final

On day one, Australia had established control through strong bowling from their pace trio, following a disappointing batting display.

They were all out for a meagre total of 212 runs after South Africa won the toss and opted to bowl first.

Kagiso Rabada shone with the ball for South Africa, taking five wickets, while Beau Webster led the Australian batting effort with a score of 72 runs off 92 deliveries.

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How can India qualify for WTC final after Melbourne Test defeat against Australia?

MELBOURNE: India suffered a major blow to their chances of qualifying for the final of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) after suffering a thumping defeat in the fourth Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia here on Monday.

India bundled for 155 with just 12.5 overs left in the match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) as Australia claimed a thrilling 184-run victory to go 2-1 up in the five-match series.

Despite the heavy defeat, India are still in contention for a spot in the WTC final next year at Lord’s. Currently ranked No. 3 on the points table, India holds a Percentage of Points (PCT%) of 52.78, leaving them with a glimmer of hope.

To secure their qualification, India must triumph over Australia in the crucial fifth Test match, which is set to commence on January 3, 2025, at the iconic Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG).

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However, India will also need Sri Lanka to achieve victory over Australia in their two-match Test series, scheduled to begin on January 29, 2025, in Galle. A series win for Sri Lanka by either 2-0 or 1-0 would be essential for India’s chances.

If everything falls into place, India could conclude the WTC 2023-25 cycle with a PCT% of 55.26. In this scenario, Australia’s maximum PCT% could rise to 53.51, while Sri Lanka could finish with a maximum of 53.85 PCT%.

However, if India fails to secure a win in the fifth Test against Australia, they would be out of the race for the WTC final, even in case of a draw.

Furthermore, if India manages to overcome Australia in Sydney yet Australia still manages to win at least one Test in their series against Sri Lanka, India would still fall short of qualification.

Meanwhile, South Africa have made history on Sunday by clinching their first-ever place in the WTC final. This achievement came after a thrilling victory over Pakistan by two wickets in the first Test of their two-match series in Centurion.

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Temba Bavuma eyes WTC final spot with victory over Pakistan

South Africa Test captain Temba Bavuma stated that his team aims to defeat Pakistan in the upcoming series to secure a spot in the final of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC).

Bavuma’s team has emerged as formidable contenders for the WTC final, currently perched at the summit of the points table after their clean sweep victory over Sri Lanka in a recent two-match Test series.

With two crucial Tests still to be played on home turf against Pakistan, securing victories in these matches will further cement their position in the race for the final.

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“I believe we are performing well as a team, currently ranked number one in the WTC table. The future is uncertain, but we will take the time to celebrate today,” Temba Bavuma stated.

“In a few weeks, we face Pakistan, and we must maintain our focus and continue our journey.”

Bavuma also addressed his return to action after being on the sidelines due to an injury.

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“It feels great to be back; it was frustrating to watch from the sidelines. I was eager to return and seize the opportunity,” he added.

It’s worth noting that the two-match Test series between Pakistan and South Africa will kick off in Centurion on December 26, meanwhile, the second Test will start from January 3 in Cape Town.

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Can Sri Lanka still qualify for WTC final after South Africa series defeat?

Sri Lanka were whitewashed by South Africa in the two-match Test series, which dented their chances of qualifying for the final of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC).

Sri Lanka had arrived in South Africa with an aim to secure a place in the WTC final for the 2023-25 cycle, however, their hopes suffered a massive blow with a crushing defeat in the opening Test in Durban.

While the team displayed a more resilient performance in the second Test in Gqeberha, they ultimately fell short, succumbing to the hosts by a substantial margin of 109 runs.

This victory propelled South Africa to the top of the WTC points table, positioning them as strong contenders for the final.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka remained in fourth place, but their dreams of reaching the final were not entirely dashed. They still had two matches left in the current cycle, with Australia set to visit Sri Lanka for a two-match series next year.

The Sri Lankan cricket team need to achieve a clean sweep victory over Australia to boost their percentage points (PCT) to 53.85.

A victory by just 1-0 would leave Sri Lanka with a PCT of only 48.72, which would not suffice. Additionally, they need to keep an eye on the outcomes of other teams’ matches.

South Africa have two Tests remaining in the current cycle on their home soil against Pakistan. If they draw even one of those matches, they would secure a PCT of 55.56.

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However, if Pakistan manage to stun South Africa with a 2-0 victory, then the latter would finish with a PCT of 52.78.

Sri Lanka’s chances of qualification would increase significantly in case of South Africa’s defeat, regardless of the results from the ongoing series between India and Australia.

For instance, should Australia incur a 2-3 loss, their PCT would dwindle to 50.00, assuming Sri Lanka achieves a 0-2 victory over them. Similarly, if India were to face a similar 2-3 defeat, they would drop to a PCT of 53.51.

However, in the case of Pakistan’s loss against South Africa, the situation becomes more complex.

The only feasible path remaining for Sri Lanka to qualify under those circumstances would require the India-Australia series to conclude in a 1-1 draw. In this scenario, India would finalize their campaign at 53.51, while Australia would settle at a PCT of 50.00.

After going through all the scenarios, it’s clear that Sri Lanka would want Pakistan to achieve a clean sweep over South Africa.

If this happens and Sri Lanka can triumph 2-0 against Australia, their qualification would be nearly assured. Otherwise, Sri Lanka would still need to secure a 2-0 win against Australia while simultaneously hoping for three consecutive draws in the Australia series.

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How can India qualify for WTC final after crushing Australia in Perth Test?

India, under the stand-in captain Jasprit Bumrah, defeated Australia by a massive 295-run margin in the first Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Perth and claimed the top spot in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) standings on Monday.

Australia, while chasing a mountainous 534, crumbled to 238 all out in the final session on day four. A counter-punching Travis Head made a gritty 89 while Mitchell Marsh chipped in with 47.

But it was never going to be enough against an inspired attack led by the irrepressible Bumrah, who took 3-42 to claim eight wickets in the match. He was ably supported by Mohammed Siraj with 3-51.

It was an astonishing turnaround for India, who arrived in Australia on the back of a humiliating 3-0 home series defeat to New Zealand. They needed four victories in the five-match series to earn their place in the WTC final.

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With the victory in the Perth Test, India successfully ascended to the top of the WTC standings, boasting a PCT of 61.11 after winning nine out of their 15 matches in the ongoing cycle.

In contrast, Australia, who had previously held the leading position in the WTC standings, fell to second place following this match, now possessing a PCT of 57.69 after securing eight wins out of 13 matches.

However, the win in Perth did not guarantee India a spot in the WTC final. To ensure their place in the final, the Indian team would need to win three out of the remaining four matches during their Australian tour.

A 5-0 clean sweep or a 4-1 victory in the series would provide them with the coveted ticket to the final. In case they fail to achieve these results, their fate will depend on the outcomes of other teams in the championship.

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ICC World Test Championship Final schedule unveiled

DUBAI: The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Tuesday revealed the dates for the World Test Championship (WTC) 2025 final, scheduled to be played at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground in London.

The one-off Test be played between the top two sides on the WTC points table from 11th to 15th June 2025, with the 16th of June available as a reserve day.

Lord’s will host the WTC final for the first time as Southampton and The Oval served as the hosts for the 2021 and 2023 finals. New Zealand lifted the trophy in 2021, while Pat Cummins-led Australia won the tournament in 2023.

“This Ultimate Test is the culmination of two years of intense competition in the ICC World Test Championship, spanning 69 Test matches over 27 series played to decide the finalists,” the ICC stated in a press release.

“Fans from around the globe will have the opportunity to witness history in the making of a week-long celebration of the longest format of the game.

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“Tickets will be in high demand and fans are asked to register their interest to attend the unique sporting event of mental strength, stamina, technique and strategy.”

It’s worth noting that India are currently sitting at the top of the WTC points table with defending champions Australia following them closely.

However, there are still ample points up for grabs for teams, several contenders such as New Zealand (ranked third), Bangladesh (fourth), England (fifth), South Africa (sixth), and Sri Lanka (seventh) are still in the running for a spot in the final.

“The ICC World Test Championship Final has quickly become one of the most anticipated events in the cricketing calendar and we are pleased to announce the dates for the 2025 edition,” ICC CEO Geoff Allardice said.

“It’s a testament to the enduring appeal of Test cricket, which continues to captivate fans around the world. Tickets will be in high demand so I would encourage fans to register their interest now to ensure they are in with a chance of attending the Ultimate Test next year.”

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