Earlier this week, Australia defeated India at The Oval to clinch their maiden WTC title.
Earlier this week, Australia defeated India at The Oval to clinch their maiden WTC title. While Pat Cummins and his men might still be relishing their triumph, they need to quickly shift their focus to the next WTC cycle, slated to get underway on June 16 at Edgbaston against arch-rivals England.
The Ashes series, comprising five Tests, will kick-off the WTC 2023-25 cycle that will see a total of 68 matches being played across 27 series. The final of the third WTC cycle will be held at Lord’s in 2025.
Besides Australia and England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka and West Indies are the other seven teams to feature in the WTC 2023-25 cycle.
Each WTC series in this cycle will have two to five Tests, with the nine participating teams playing six series each – three at home and three away. The top two sides on the points table will then qualify for the summit clash.
Australia topped the points table in the 2021-23 cycle en route to their maiden WTC mace, and Cummins expects his team to replicate the feat again.
“It has been a very enjoyable and rewarding journey through this World Test Championship and we very much look forward to the next cycle,” Cummins was quoted as saying by ICC.
“It was a goal of ours to reach the Final and the fact we were able to win is a great outcome for the group.
“It’s a great start to our UK tour but there’s plenty of hard work still to be done over the next five Test matches.”
Ben Stokes, who has changed the fortunes of the England Test team after taking over the captaincy last year, is also excited for the new WTC cycle.
"We are looking forward to the new cycle of the World Test Championship, and hope we get off to a good start,” Stokes said, as quoted by ICC.
“The Ashes combined with World Test Championship points make it an intriguing series against Australia.
“I am sure fans worldwide will be following the proceedings with eagerness. We are excited for what the English summer holds."
Just like the first two editions, the nine competing teams won’t play the same number of matches in the 2023-25 WTC cycle and the standings will be ascertained by the percentage of all possible points earned.
England will play the most number of Test matches during the third WTC cycle and it is 21, while Australia and India will play 19 Tests each.
Each Test carries 12 points for a win, four points to each team for a draw and six points to each team for a tie. No points are earned from a loss, and teams can lose points for slow over rates.
(With ICC Inputs)