The ICC’s World Test Championship is one of the governing body’s best initiatives, encapsulating the essence of the game’s most venerable format. The inaugural showpiece event was held in 2021, with New Zealand winning the final against India.

The WTC cycle lasts two years, with teams playing six series over that time – three at home and three away. The top two teams after that book a spot in the final. The winner lifts the coveted test mace.

During Greg Barclay’s chairmanship of the ICC, the organisation decided to introduce the competition as an attempt to make sure the format appealed to modern fans, who are distracted by T20 and one-day games. But the structure is flawed.

One of the biggest criticisms came from the prestigious Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack, which called it “a sticking-plaster for Test cricket’s most pressing fiscal challenge”.

In theory, the system is designed to ensure that the world’s ‘big three’ – England, Australia and India – do not dominate the tournament, which is supposed to be the pinnacle of red-ball cricket. But in practice, the ICC’s points system seems rankly unfair, especially for those teams that play more tests than others and regularly face the Big Three.

This is why South Africa’s win in the 2025 final at Lord’s was so satisfying. The Temba Bavuma-led Proteas broke a 27-year wait for an ICC trophy and ended the reign of serial champions Australia, who struggled to take their chances on a flat pitch in London.