COC presents the team of the World Test Championship (WTC)  

New Zealand defeated India by 8 wickets in the ICC WTC 2021 Final to become the 1st World Test Champions.

The first-ever ICC World Test Champions (WTC) came to an end with New Zealand coming out the victors after defeating India in the ICC WTC final which was held at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton from 18-23 June.

New Zealand defeated India by 8 wickets in three and a half days as rain and bad light resulted in the loss of 2 complete days and caused multiple interruptions. Thanks to this win, New Zealand not only became the first-ever World Test Champions but also pocketed $1.6 million as well.

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The whole two-year cycle of the first WTC saw many players performing amazingly well and helped their team and today, TEAM COC takes a look at the twelve best performers in the ICC World Test Championship 2019-2021.

Here is the COC team of the World Test Championship (WTC)  

ROHIT SHARMA (IND)
1094 runs in 12 Tests, avg of 60.77, 4 centuries and best of 212

The WTC proved to be a renaissance of sorts for Rohit Sharma, who was promoted to open the innings in Test matches as well. His first outing as Test match opener was against South Africa at home and he smashed a century in both innings of the match and followed it with a double century as well.

He continued the good form scoring 4 centuries in total for India, and helped the team get into the final of the ICC World Test Championship.

DIMUTH KARUNARATNE (SL)
999 runs in 10 Tests, avg of 55.50, 4 centuries and best of 244

Dimuth Karunaratne of Sri Lanka led from the front as their captain in the World Test Championship (WTC) tournament. He scored a brilliant 999 runs in 10 Test matches with four centuries to his name, including the best score of 244, which came against Bangladesh in Pallekele. 

KANE WILLIAMSON (C-NZ)
918 runs in 10 Tests, avg of 61.20, 3 centuries and best of 251

Kane Williamson finally has an ICC trophy in his cabinet after the twin heartbreaks of the 2015 and 2019 World Cups. Williamson led from the front as he scored a sublime half-century helping New Zealand chasing down the 139-run target set by India in the ICC WTC 2021 Final.

Virat Kohli gives warm hug to Kane Williamson after New Zealand's WTC final victory

Williamson also performed amazingly well in the 10 Tests of the WTC scoring 918 runs with the best score of 251.

STEVE SMITH (AUS)
1341 runs in 13 Tests, avg of 63.85, 4 centuries and best of 211

Steve Smith played 13 Tests in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) and scored 1341 runs with 4 centuries to his name, including the best score of 211 at ab average of 63.85. He has been the second-leading scorer for Australia in the WTC cycle.

Incidentally, he came back into the Australia team in 2019 after completing his one-year ban for ball-tampering in the Ashes that year and scored heavily against England including a century in each innings in Edgbaston and a double ton in Manchester, making 774 runs in just 4 Tests.  

MARNUS LABUSCHAGNE (AUS)
1675 runs in 13 Tests, avg of 72.82, 5 centuries and best of 215

Marnus Labuschagne ended up as the highest run-getter in the 2019-21 WTC cycle with 1675 runs in 13 Test matches. He scored 5 centuries with the highest score of 215 runs. He averaged 72.82 for Australia during the WTC 2019-21 cycle. Labuschagne’s hunger for runs has resulted in him becoming a vital cog in the Australia batting lineup.

BEN STOKES (ENG)
1334 runs in 17 Tests, avg of 46, 4 centuries and best of 176; 34 wickets with inns best of 4/49

Ben Stokes proved to the world that he is perhaps the best all-rounder in the world today given that he was in both the highest run-getters and wicket-takers list.

Stokes started the WTC well, leading England to a famous win over Australia in the 2019 Ashes in Headingley and overall made 1334 runs in 17 Tests with 4 centuries and best of 176. With the ball, he picked 34 wickets, most of them coming at a crucial time and helping England along the way.

RISHABH PANT (WK-IND)
707 runs in 12 Tests, avg of 39.27, 1 century and best of 101, 41 dismissals

Rishabh Pant finally got his redemption when he was asked to keep wickets in the 2020-21 Australia series. He was bought in to strengthen the batting as Virat Kohli went back home after the first Test in Adelaide. But he starred in India’s SCG draw and then made a brilliant 89* in India’s epic Test win in Brisbane, which handed them their second consecutive Test series win in Australia.

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He continued his good form at home against England, scoring a century as well. However, the best thing was his wicketkeeping and fitness, both of which improved drastically while he was away from the team.   

KYLE JAMIESON (NZ)
247 runs and 43 wickets in 7 Tests, inns best of 6/48, 5 fifers and 1 10-fer

Kyle Jamieson rightfully won the Man of the Match in the WTC 2021 Final against India and probably is the find of the tournament as well. Making his Test debut in 2020 against India at home, Jamieson ended up with 247 runs and 43 wickets in 7 Tests. More impressively, he has 5 five-wicket hauls and one ten-fer to his name. Certainly a future star in making.  

R ASHWIN (IND)
71 wickets in 14 Tests, inns best of 7/145, 324 runs with one century

R Ashwin showed why he is one of the all-time greats of the game as he finished as the highest wicket-taker in the ICC World Test Championship with 71 scalps to his name in 14 Tests with a best of 7/145. He also scored one century, which came against England at home recently.

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He picked wickets in buckets at home and then starred with the ball in Australia, getting Steve Smith out twice for single-digit scores.

PAT CUMMINS (AUS)
70 wickets in 14 Tests, inns best of 5/28

Pat Cummins justified his position as one of the best Test bowlers in modern times with 70 wickets in 14 Test matches in the ICC World Test Championship tournament. His best bowling was 5/28 and he bowled tirelessly, especially in the high stakes home Test series against India.

TIM SOUTHEE (NZ)
56 wickets in 11 Tests, inns best of 5/32

Tim Southee was perhaps the unsung hero of New Zealand’s ICC WTC win as he picked 56 wickets in 11 Test matches with a best of 5/32. However, he also starred in the all-important final against India as he contributed 30 runs with the bat and then picked 4 wickets in the Indian second innings. A true warrior for the New Zealand team and a great servant of the game.  

RAVINDRA JADEJA (12^TH MAN- IND)
29 wickets in 11 Tests, inns best of 4/62; 500 runs with best of 91

If the ICC World Test Championship match featuring this team is played in Asian conditions, Ravindra Jadeja will be included in the playing XI, given his ability to run through his overs and pick important wickets with the ball. He has improved significantly with the bat, scoring 500 runs in 11 Tests in the ICC WTC cycle and his fielding has been amazing as always.

COC presents the World Test Championship XI:

Rohit Sharma, Dimuth Karunaratne, Kane Williamson (C), Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Ben Stokes, Rishabh Pant (WK), Kyle Jamieson, R Ashwin, Pat Cummins, Tim Southee, Ravindra Jadeja (12^th man)