The ICC is considering expanding the World Test Championship to include Zimbabwe, Afghanistan, and Ireland, with a proposal to be presented to the Board of Directors.
'If you end up finding yourself in the position where you happen to be in that World Test Championship final, then it is great, but it is a real weird one knowing that you are playing for something over a long period of time.'
There was much criticism of how South Africa managed to reach the final without playing either Australia and England in the two-year qualifying period.
The 2025 World Test Championship (WTC) final will be played at the iconic Lord's cricket ground from June 11 to 15 next year.
Australia has announced a 13-man squad for the upcoming two-Test home series against Bangladesh, featuring the return of captain Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, and Nathan Lyon from injury. The series, part of the World Test Championship, sees competition for fast bowling spots with Scott Boland's strong performance, while Jake Weatherald and Cameron Green retain their places despite recent struggles. The squad aims to solidify Australia's top position in the WTC standings.
The points table of the ICC World Test Championship.
Southampton's Utilita Bowl will host a men's Ashes Test for the first time in 2025, as the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced the concurrent scheduling of the men's and women's Ashes series against Australia, mirroring the successful 2023 format.
The Oval in London has been confirmed as the venue for the 2027 ICC World Test Championship Final, scheduled from June 9-13. This marks the second time The Oval will host the final, having previously done so in 2023. Nine teams are currently competing in the ongoing WTC cycle, with Australia leading the standings, followed by South Africa and New Zealand, as the race intensifies with crucial upcoming series.
Former Indian cricketer Ajinkya Rahane believes India's recent Test struggles stem from the departure of senior players, emphasising the need for a core of seven to eight experienced cricketers in the longer format.
In the World Test Championship final in June, New Zealand, in all likelihood, will meet either India or England, who will clash in a four-Test series, starting on Friday.
Ayush Shetty, Unnati Hooda, Simran Singhi, and Kavipriya Selvam are set to make their BWF World Championships debut as India hosts the prestigious badminton event after 17 years, offering a significant platform for these rising stars.
India head coach Gautam Gambhir has expressed confidence in his team's readiness for the upcoming two-Test series against Sri Lanka, starting August 15. Gambhir also welcomed new squad members Saransh Jain and Auqib Nabi, emphasising the team's preparation for their first ICC World Test Championship assignment since a previous home defeat.
India Test captain Shubman Gill sustained two painful blows to his right hand during a training session in Colombo, just before a warm-up match against a Sri Lanka XI. Despite initial concerns, assessments suggest no serious damage, allowing Gill to continue preparations for the upcoming World Test Championship series.
From his iconic Melbourne centuries to Lord's heroics, revisit Ajinkya Rahane's five greatest Test knocks that shaped his remarkable India career.
India's two-Test series against hosts Sri Lanka will be played in Galle and Colombo from August 15 to 27.
All-rounder Ravindra Jadeja is set to make his return to Test cricket against Sri Lanka, a team he has historically performed well against, bringing significant experience in both batting and bowling to the Indian squad.
Pakistan captain Babar Azam confirmed that Shan Masood fractured his finger during the first ICC World Test Championship match against the West Indies, contributing to Pakistan's 90-run defeat. The injury forced Masood to bat at No. 8, and Babar highlighted the team's top-order batting failures and lack of partnerships. West Indies' Justin Greaves was named Player of the Match for his five-wicket haul.
Aakash Chopra believes India faces a challenging path to the ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 final, even if they register a 2-0 series sweep in Sri Lanka.
Australian batter Marnus Labuschagne is 'extremely optimistic and well-prepared' for the upcoming two-match home Test series against Bangladesh, believing that runs will flow if he trusts his game, despite a recent drought of Test centuries.
India's premier fast bowler, Jasprit Bumrah, has received clearance from the BCCI's Centre of Excellence to participate in the upcoming two-Test series against Sri Lanka. Bumrah had been recovering from an impact injury sustained during the recent ODI series against England, which forced him to miss the third ODI. His return is crucial for India's World Test Championship aspirations.
New Delhi organisers are confident of delivering a 'world-class spectacle' for the upcoming Badminton World Championships, having addressed previous concerns regarding venue cleanliness, air quality, and animal control that marred the India Open earlier this year.
Pakistan slipped to eighth in the World Test Championship standings following their 10-wicket loss to Bangladesh.
Bangladesh's Test squad for the upcoming series against Australia faces significant challenges with pace spearhead Ebadot Hossain unavailable due to personal reasons and Nahid Rana's participation uncertain due to injury. Despite these setbacks, the team remains optimistic about Litton Das's recovery and the batting unit's ability to perform, as they prepare with an early arrival and warm-up match in Darwin.
India head coach Gautam Gambhir has endorsed the ICC's new rule allowing pink balls in day Tests to mitigate bad light issues, seeing it as a crucial opportunity for teams to secure results, especially with World Test Championship implications.
Indian wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant trained with former captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni in Ranchi ahead of the challenging Test tour of Sri Lanka.
India captain Virat Kohli says the competition in the traditional format has "gone up two-fold" in recent years.
A 24-member Indian fencing contingent, comprising 12 men and 12 women athletes, is set to compete in the Senior World Fencing Championships in Hong Kong. The team will participate across Epee, Foil, and Sabre disciplines in both individual and team formats, aiming to make a mark on the global stage.
Australia's head coach Andrew McDonald discusses how the Indian Premier League (IPL) can be integrated into the national team's demanding international schedule, emphasising the need for workload management, especially for fast bowlers. He highlights the IPL's benefits for player development while acknowledging the challenges of a packed calendar including major Test series and ICC events.
Kemar Roach picked up four wickets as West Indies crushed Sri Lanka by an innings and 217 runs in the first Test on Sunday.
India are yet to drop a point in the nine-team championship, having won three series in a row.
Pakistan were ruled to be eight overs short of the target after time allowances were taken into consideration.
West Indies have secured their first Test series victory in three years, defeating Sri Lanka 1-0 after the second and final Test in North Sound ended in a rain-affected draw.
Pakistan faces a daunting chase in the opening Test against West Indies in Tarouba, grappling with a recurring batting collapse issue that has plagued them over the last 10 months. After being bowled out for 282, losing seven wickets for 38 runs, they now hope their pace attack can limit West Indies' lead.
Chief coach Amol Muzumdar lauded the Indian women's cricket team for their historic 270-run Test victory over England at Lord's, attributing the success to a blend of 'patience mixed with the right amount of aggression' and highlighting centurion Yastika Bhatia's 'special knock' and pacer Kranti Gaud's 'controlled line and length'.
Kohli has no doubts that World Test Championship has added a context to the traditional format making the contests more exciting with points on offer.
West Indies all-rounder Justin Greaves made history by becoming the first bowler in Test cricket to take wickets in five consecutive maiden overs during the opening Test against Pakistan in Tarouba.
England's aspirations for a maiden World Test Championship final appearance have been significantly impacted after they were docked 12 points due to a slow over-rate during their recent defeat to New Zealand at The Oval. The penalty, alongside a 50% match fee fine, has caused their points percentage to drop, making their path to the final more challenging.
Already, the knives are out for Gautam Gambhir because of his poor record as coach in Test matches, and a potential defeat in Sri Lanka could prove to be the killer blow.
Indian cricket legend Rahul Dravid is reportedly a contender for the England Test coach position, following Brendon McCullum's removal. Dravid, known for his meticulous approach, is considered an attractive candidate despite his stated preference against full-time coaching. Other prominent names like Andy Flower and Richard Dawson are also in consideration for the role.
Pakistan's Test team head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed has acknowledged ongoing fitness issues within the squad, despite a recent training camp. A new conditioning camp is planned to address these concerns before the team's crucial tours to the Caribbean and England. New Test captain Babar Azam is focused on improving fitness and discipline for better performance in red-ball cricket.
