World Test Championship (WTC) 2025–27: Fixtures, Points Table & Format Explained

The new cycle of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) has started with the teams aiming to reach the final to be played in 2027. After South Africa won the WTC Final 2025, teams are ready to fight again for the prestigious Test Mace. The new WTC 2025-27 cycle promises exciting matches, intense rivalries, and more chances for teams to reach the final in 2027.
ICC Chair Mr. Jay Shah praised the World Test Championship after the 2025 final. He said, “The WTC Final at Lord’s was a fantastic match between Australia and South Africa. Now we look forward to the next chapter. The World Test Championship gives meaning to every Test match. It keeps the interest alive for both players and fans. We are excited to see where this journey leads us in 2027.”

When Will New WTC Cycle Start?

The new WTC cycle kicked off on 17th June 2025 with the series between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. They are playing a two-Test series in Sri Lanka.
Just a few days later, one of the biggest rivalries in Test cricket will begin as England and India lock horns for a highly anticipated five-match Test series. These matches will be played at famous English grounds, Headingley, Edgbaston, Lord’s, Old Trafford, and The Oval.
Notably, Australia, which lost in the WTC final 2025, will start their campaign in the Caribbean. They will play three Tests against the West Indies. This series will also determine the Frank Worrell Trophy winner. As in the past, nine teams are part of the WTC. Each team will play six other teams - three at home and three away. The WTC matches will take place over two years, ending in early 2027.

Who Is In the Race For The WTC Final 2027?

It is noteworthy that every Test match in the World Test Championship matters. Each team has its own journey. Australia will play 11 Tests at home. This includes the Ashes series against England and four Tests against New Zealand. Meanwhile, England will also play 11 Tests at home and 10 away. In December 2026, they will tour South Africa for three important matches.
India will play 18 Tests in total, with nine at home and nine away. They begin with a major test by playing against England at home. India will also tour countries like Australia and New Zealand. New Zealand, the 2021 WTC champions, will play 16 matches in this cycle. Their games include tours to England, Australia, and Pakistan, and home matches against India, West Indies, and Sri Lanka.
South Africa, now the reigning champions, will aim to continue their strong form. They will play key series against England, India, and Pakistan.

As the cycle has just begun, all teams have a fair chance of qualifying for the WTC 2025-27 Final.

Alongside the reigning champions, South Africa, Australia and India will be prime contenders for the WTC Final 2027. Both India and Australia have reached the final twice so far. While Australia have won the title once, the Men in Blue are yet to lay their hands on the trophy. The nine teams that are competing in this WTC cycle are as follows:

• Australia
• India
• England
• South Africa
• New Zealand
• Pakistan
• West Indies
• Sri Lanka
• Bangladesh

WTC Points Table 2025-27 Updated

The WTC points system remains the same as before. Teams will earn 12 points for a win, 6 points for a tie, 4 points for a draw, and 0 points for a loss.
But what really matters is the percentage of points won (PCT). This helps adjust for the number of matches played. For example, if a team wins 5 out of 6 games, its PCT will be higher than that of a team winning 6 out of 10. This system makes it fair for all teams. The ICC will share the updated WTC Points Table 2025-27 after each series.

WTC Final 2027 Venue

The teams are yet to play completed Tests in the current WTC cycle. It remains to be seen which team gets to the top after the end of the cycle. The top two teams in the 2025-27 WTC cycle will play the final in 2027 at Lord's. It is to be noted that Lord's hosted the WTC Final 2025 as well, where South Africa lifted the title by defeating Australia in the final.