Cricket-World Test Championship format needs revamping despite riveting final
LONDON (Reuters) -A riveting World Test Championship final between Australia and South Africa went a long way to boost the sagging credentials of the five-day game, but the format of the competition is in need of a revamp, according to many of the game's top observers.
South Africa beat Australia by five wickets at lunch on the fourth day of a fluctuating contest at Lord's in which the bowlers dominated the opening two days. A total of 24 wickets were taken, but the tables were turned as wickets turned benign and the batsmen changed the course of the match.
It was classic test cricket, as good as the excitement from any limited overs contest, but the overall WTC is a bewildering competition, devoid of uniformity and an unbalanced points system.
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.
"It's very hard for the average cricket fan to understand who's the best team in the world and how exactly the top two teams make it to the final," said former England captain Michael Vaughan, now a television pundit.
The two finalists are decided by a table of test results, with points awarded for wins and draws. The pair with the highest percentage of points available to them advance to the final, which in 2027 could again be at Lord's or in India, according to International Cricket Council officials.
But there was a major discrepancy in South Africa playing only 12 tests compared to 19 for Australia and India, and even more by England (22).
"I can't remember if I've ever even given any real time to be specifically thinking about the World Test Championship to be honest because it's utterly confusing," added England captain Ben Stokes.
Countries are free to decide how many tests they want to play, and in South Africa's case, there is much less of an appetite for test cricket because they lose money.
In the next cycle, which starts on Tuesday when Bangladesh begin a two-test series in Sri Lanka, the new champions will play 14 tests, this time including three test series against each of Australia and England but only two against India.
Five test series are now only the preserve of contests between Australia, England, and India.
"The fixture list is uneven; not everyone plays everyone else, and some have an easier ride than others," wrote Michael Atherton last week.
"Everyone knows the WTC in its present guise is flawed, and that solutions, with so many competing interests, are fiendishly difficult," added the former England skipper.
(Editing by Christian Radnedge)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
an hour ago
- The Star
Cycling-Olympic champion Evenepoel to join Red Bull–Bora–Hansgrohe team
FILE PHOTO: Cycling - Tour de France - Stage 11 - Toulouse to Toulouse - Toulouse, France - July 16, 2025 Soudal Quick-Step's Remco Evenepoel before stage 11 REUTERS/Benoit Tessier/File Photo (Reuters) -Belgian Olympic gold medallist Remco Evenepoel will leave Soudal Quick-Step and join Red Bull–Bora–Hansgrohe at the end of the 2025 season, his current team said on Tuesday. The 25-year-old former Vuelta a Espana winner, who won gold in the road race and time trial at last year's Paris Games, joined Soudal Quick-Step in 2019, and was contracted to the team until the end of 2026. "Representatives of Remco informed the team's management that he did not wish to discuss an extension of his current agreement," Soudal Quick-Step said in a statement. "The team's ownership and management have decided that it is in best interest of everyone to agree that Remco can move at the end of the current 2025 season." In December, Evenepoel collided with the open door of a vehicle while training in Belgium, suffering multiple fractures, a dislocated collarbone and contusions to both lungs. He underwent surgery and worried he might have to retire, but returned to competition in April. Evenepoel was third overall when he abandoned the Tour de France during the 14th stage last month. (Reporting by Chiranjit Ojha in Bengaluru, editring by Ed Osmond)
The Star
an hour ago
- The Star
Soccer-Serie A referees to announce VAR decisions live in stadiums
(Reuters) -Serie A referees will begin announcing VAR decisions live in stadiums and on television starting next season, referee designator Gianluca Rocchi told Italian media on Tuesday. Rocchi described the move as a significant step forward in communication between referees and the public, saying the aim was to make officiating decisions quicker and clearer. "We have a select group of officials and we want to ensure the language is as uniform as possible so that decisions can be clear to the public," Rocchi said. The concept of referees explaining decisions to the crowd has also been explored in countries including England and Germany. The Serie A season kicks off on August 23. (Reporting by Tommy Lund in Gdansk, editing by Ed Osmond)
The Star
2 hours ago
- The Star
Soccer-Porto great Jorge Costa dies aged 53 after cardiac arrest
FILE PHOTO: Gabon's head coach Jorge Costa of Portugal reacts during a soccer match in Bata, Equatorial Guinea, January 21, 2015. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh/File Photo (Reuters) -Former Porto captain Jorge Costa died on Tuesday at the age of 53 after suffering a cardiac arrest at the club's training centre, the Portuguese side said. The former defender, who was serving as Porto's Director of Professional Football in his second season in the role, was rushed to hospital but could not be saved. "Throughout his life, both on and off the pitch, Jorge Costa embodied the values that define FC Porto: dedication, leadership, passion and an unshakeable spirit of conquest," the club said in a statement. "He left his mark on generations of fans and became a symbol of Portismo." Over his career, Costa played 530 games in all competitions - 383 for Porto and 50 for Portugal's national team. Costa earned the nickname "Bicho" (Animal) from teammate Fernando Couto during their partnership in central defence. As captain, he led Porto to UEFA Cup glory in 2003 and a Champions League triumph in 2004 under manager Jose Mourinho. The defender was one of six players to win five consecutive Portuguese league championships with Porto, alongside Aloisio, Drulovic, Paulinho Santos, Rui Barros and Folha. Costa returned to the club in April 2024 as director under new president Andre Villas-Boas. "Jorge Costa's legacy will always remain alive in the memory of all Porto fans. You will never be forgotten, Captain," the club added. (Reporting by Fernando KallasEditing by Christian Radnedge)
