In the world of cricket, Test matches have their unique fun – a five-day test of patience, strategy, and skills. And the ultimate prize of this format is the World Test Championship (WTC) title! Ever since the ICC started this championship, Test cricket has gained a new excitement. So let’s talk today about the WTC champions till now, the story of their victories, and who has been made the ‘King of Test Cricket’!
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- WTC Champions
What is WTC? A quick rewind!
The WTC Champions is a two-year cycle tournament organised by the International Cricket Council (ICC). The top Test-playing nations play each other and rank on the points table. Every team plays a home and away series, and at the end, the top two teams clash in the grand finale for the WTC mace. It has given a purpose to Test cricket and increased the importance of every series.
First King: New Zealand (2019-2021):
The final of the first WTC cycle was played in June 2021 in Southampton, England. India and New Zealand face off in this. The eyes of the whole world were on Virat Kohli’s Team India, which was the dominant force in Test cricket at that time. But New Zealand, under the captaincy of Kane Williamson, surprised everyone.
In the final, cloudy conditions and pitch supported the fast bowlers. Kyle Jamieson troubled the Indian batsmen a lot with his height and swing. Ross Taylor and Kane Williamson batted brilliantly under pressure, and New Zealand defeated India by 8 wickets to win the first WTC title. This was their “nice guys finish first” story, who won everyone’s heart with their consistent performance. His victory proved how important consistency and discipline are in Test cricket.
Second King: Australia (2021-2023):
The final of the second WTC cycle took place in June 2023 at the iconic Oval ground in London. Once again, India reached the final, and this time they were up against cricket powerhouse Australia. Under the captaincy of Pat Cummins, Australia played tremendous cricket throughout the cycle.
In the final, Australia outplayed India in every department. Travis Head and Steve Smith scored brilliant centuries in the first innings as Australia posted a huge total. Their fast bowlers, especially Scott Boland, collapsed the Indian batting line-up. India suffered a major defeat by 209 runs, and Australia won their first WTC title. This was their typical Australian dominance, in which every player played his role brilliantly. He showed how important a ‘khadoos’ attitude and simulated aggression are to win in Test cricket.
Third King: South Africa (2023-2025):
And now, the latest news! South Africa has won the title of 2023-2025 World Test Championship! This is a very special moment for them as they defeated Australia in the final at Lord’s and won a major ICC trophy after 27 years.
Under the captaincy of Dean Elgar, South Africa showed its mettle throughout the cycle. In the final, they gave a brilliant all-round performance against Australia. Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje troubled the Australian batsmen with their pace and aggression, and their batting line-up also made important contributions. This victory is a new chapter for South African cricket, in which they showed their resilience and fighting spirit. This has also given rise to a new contender in Test cricket, and they achieved a memorable victory.
The future of the WTC: Will we see more surprises?
Every WTC cycle has given something new and unexpected. Be it the underdogs’ victory of New Zealand or the dominance of Australia, and now the comeback of South Africa. This championship is making Test cricket even more exciting. Fans now see the race of the final in every Test series, as a result of which the level of the game has increased even more.
It will be interesting to see which teams will be on top in the next cycle and who will become the new champion of Test cricket. But one thing is for sure: Test cricket is alive, and the WTC has given it a new color, with every victory!