All posts tagged: WTC

2027 WTC Final to be hosted by The Oval from June 9

2027 WTC Final to be hosted by The Oval from June 9

Published by Webster

2 min readJul 23, 2026 06:37 PM IST The 2027 World Test Championship final will be hosted at the Oval from June 9 to 13, the International Cricket Council (ICC) said on Thursday. It will be the second time that the marquee Test match will be played at the venue, with the Oval having played host to the final in 2023. Australia had won the title that year, beating India by 209 runs. South Africa are the defending champions, beating Australia in the last WTC Final in 2027 and thus ending their long wait for an ICC trophy. The decision comes just over a month after the Lord’s pitch for the first Test between England and New Zealand was rated ‘unsatisfactory’ by the ICC. The iconic cricket ground was earlier expected to host the 2027 Final, as it did in 2025. Match referee Andy Pycroft had said that there was “excessive seam movement throughout the Test and the ball also kept extremely low on several occasions”. “The bounce was variable throughout as 16 wickets fell …

WTC in women’s cricket? Amol Muzumdar answers after India’s Lord’s win

WTC in women’s cricket? Amol Muzumdar answers after India’s Lord’s win

Published by Webster

India’s women’s team head coach Amol Muzumdar has said that he would be happy to see a World Test Championship (WTC) in the women’s game after his side beat England by 270 runs at Lord’s on Monday. The former right-hander felt that looking at India play Tests in Australia, England and South Africa later in the year did raise those prospects, which could add more context to the matches. “Obviously, we would be pleased if that happens. I have always maintained that Test cricket is the ultimate format of the game. Our group knows it. Not just the leadership group, but also the players coming through. They also know that Test cricket is something that we really pride ourselves in,” Muzumdar said in the post-match press conference. “We will be playing three Test matches this year. We played one in Australia, we played now here at Lord’s, and then we’ve got one in South Africa in December. So I think there are three Test matches in a year. Why not? But I’m not the one …

‘We are always optimistic. Till you have…’: Gambhir on India’s WTC chances | Cricket News

‘We are always optimistic. Till you have…’: Gambhir on India’s WTC chances | Cricket News

Published by Webster

5 min readUpdated: Jun 5, 2026 04:19 PM IST With the Shubman Gill led Indian team currently placed fifth in World Test Championships with four wins and four losses in the ongoing World Test Championship cycle, the Indian team will need to win the two Tests during the New Zealand tour later this year as well the planned two Tests in Sri Lanka to have a chance to qualify for the final of the WTC. While the Indian team faces Afghanistan in the one-off Test at Mullanpur starting Saturday, the Test is not part of the WTC cycle. When asked how optimistic is the Indian team for qualifying for the WTC final, Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir sounded optimistic and shared how the team believes that they can win the World Test Championship. “We are always optimistic. Till you have the opportunity to qualify for the World Test championship Final, you are always optimistic because we know the kind of quality we have and the kind of talent we have. I don’t think so there’s …

WTC Points Table update: Bangladesh overtake India with historic 2-0 win over Pakistan | Cricket News

WTC Points Table update: Bangladesh overtake India with historic 2-0 win over Pakistan | Cricket News

Published by Webster

2 min readUpdated: May 20, 2026 11:20 AM IST ICC World Test Championship (2025-27) Points Table update: Bangladesh achieved a landmark 2-0 series victory over Pakistan in Sylhet on Wednesday. In pursuit of a world record target of 437, Pakistan fell short in the opening session of the final day, conceding a 78-run defeat. Left-arm spinner Taijul Islam walked away with figures of 6/120 as Pakistan were bundled out on 358 after Mohammad Rizwan fell short of a century on 94. The win catapulted Bangladesh to fifth spot in the standings after four matches in the season. They overtook India who have slipped to sixth spot with only 52 points in nine matches, suffering four losses. Bangladesh’s points percentage (PCT) of 58.33 placed them ahead of India, who stand at 48.15. Meanwhile, Pakistan’s freefall continued as their PCT dropped to 8.33 in four matches. Only the West Indies stand below Pakistan on the table with a meagre PCT of 4.17, losing seven of their eight matches this cycle. Bangladesh had won the rain-hit first Test …

WTC at stake, India could send 3-4 red-ball regulars with A Team to Sri Lanka | Cricket News

WTC at stake, India could send 3-4 red-ball regulars with A Team to Sri Lanka | Cricket News

Published by Webster

3 min readChennaiMay 14, 2026 08:52 PM IST With a busy international calendar set to commence days after the Indian Premier League concludes on May 31, India are already looking ahead for four important Tests series that line-up this year. With an important two-match Test series scheduled in Sri Lanka in August, India have slotted two India A fixtures in June and July and will also play a practice fixture in the island before the series commences. The Indian Express understands that the selectors are exploring the possibility of sending three-four Test specialists with the A team for at least one of the A team fixtures. Having played nine Test matches in the current World Test Championship cycle, India are in the fifth spot and face the danger of not qualifying for the final for the second consecutive edition. For India to stand a chance to remain in the hunt for the final showdown in England next year, they need to win at least three of the four Tests in Sri Lanka and New Zealand …

‘BCCI controls the ICC’: Simon Harmer on SA’s WTC final win and global cricket balance | Cricket News

‘BCCI controls the ICC’: Simon Harmer on SA’s WTC final win and global cricket balance | Cricket News

Published by Webster

3 min readMay 5, 2026 04:34 PM IST South African off-spinner Simon Harmer said that India’s dominance in world cricket was underpinned by its commercial and administrative power, arguing that South Africa’s World Test Championship (WTC) triumph had not significantly altered the global balance. South Africa defeated Australia by five wickets to win the WTC final at Lord’s last year, their first major red-ball crown since readmission in 1991-92. “Because of their commercial power, they have all of the power,” Harmer told The Guardian. “The BCCI control the ICC. But what can we do? As a player, you just control the controllables. The only thing that changes the narrative is winning trophies.” Harmer was part of the South African side that defeated India 2-0 at home last year to inflict a second consecutive series loss at home on the Shubman Gill-led side. He expressed admiration for the current South African setup under head coach Shukri Conrad and captain Temba Bavuma, describing it as a side built on collective strength rather than star power. “That team …

‘You want to get to the WTC final, but is this team ready to get there?’: Robin Uthappa | Cricket News

‘You want to get to the WTC final, but is this team ready to get there?’: Robin Uthappa | Cricket News

Published by Webster

In 2025, India had not manage to reach the World Test Championship final for the first time since the inception of the competition, and one of the major setbacks India faced in the last cycle was losing 3-0 to New Zealand in home. In this cycle thus far, India has managed to draw 2-2 against England away from home and won a Test series against the West Indies in India. However, facing the current WTC champions, India slipped up at home yet again in Kolkata last week. Former Indian cricketer Robin Uthappa questioned whether this team was ready for the WTC. “Visiting teams play lesser cricket than India and have far more time for preparation. There is too much cricket happening,” warned Uthappa on his YouTube channel. You are going with one size fits all and trying to produce results. There needs to be a sense of realism about the goal for the next two years.” “Yes, you want to get to the WTC final, but is this team ready to get there? Who is …

ICC WTC Points Table 2025-27 update: India slip to 4th in standings after Kolkata Test defeat, South Africa in top 2 | Cricket News

ICC WTC Points Table 2025-27 update: India slip to 4th in standings after Kolkata Test defeat, South Africa in top 2 | Cricket News

Published by Webster

ICC WTC 2025-2027 Updated Standings after IND vs SA 1st Test: India slipped down to the fourth position after suffering a fatal 30-run defeat to reigning World Test Champions, South Africa, at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Sunday. Chasing 123 runs, India crumbled under pressure on a heavily spin-friendly wicket, crashing out for 93 runs. India had also landed another blow after losing Test skipper Shubman Gill to a neck spasm before the day’s play. Led by Proteas captain Temba Bavuma’s solid 55 not out, South Africa mustered 153 runs in the second innings. Bavuma was the only batter to cross more than 40 runs in the entire Test as the Saffers won their first Test in India in 15 years. India have now lost three Tests in the ongoing WTC cycle, following two losses in England earlier this year. Meanwhile, South Africa who began their title defence in Pakistan last month, has now won two of their three matches thus far, their 66.67 PCT placing them second only to Australia who have won all …

India vs South Africa: Temba Bavuma’s WTC champs get set for their hardest challenge | Cricket News

India vs South Africa: Temba Bavuma’s WTC champs get set for their hardest challenge | Cricket News

Published by Webster

Expeditions to the subcontinent seem longer than they actually are for visiting sides. South Africa, on the foothills of their 37-day trek in India, had spent 32 days in Pakistan, by the end of which they were utterly spent. Usually, the heat hits them first; mercifully, it’s late autumn in the eastern neck of India, where the visitors complete their Test engagements. But the humidity would be draining. Dust and congestion would vex them; gun-toting commandos would flank them, as they were in Pakistan, for coach Shukri Conrad to irritatingly quip: “You come here and all you ever see is armoured vehicles to and from the ground, and you stay in a hotel all day.” Or for batsman Tony de Zorzi to say, sighing: “You have to sleep a bit longer to make your days a bit shorter.” These are the challenges they would encounter even before they had stepped onto the cricket field. Before the thoroughbred pace pair of Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah begin to hum their new-ball duet, before the dexterous spin …

Javagal Srinath Named Referee As ICC Announce Match Officials For WTC Final

Javagal Srinath Named Referee As ICC Announce Match Officials For WTC Final

Published by Webster

The Indian team may not have reached the World Test Championship final but former pacer Javagal Srinath will ensure the country’s presence in the upcoming marquee clash by serving as its match referee with WTC debutant Nitin Menon doing duty as the fourth umpire. England’s Richard Illingworth and Chris Gaffaney of New Zealand will be the on-field umpires in the WTC final at Lord’s. Defending champions Australia will take on first-time finalists South Africa for the mace from June 11-15 at the hallowed venue. Richard Kettleborough, also from England, who has officiated in the finals of several marquee ICC events, including the Men’s World Cup and the Champions Trophy has been appointed as the TV umpire, after having played the same role in the inaugural WTC 2021 final between India and New Zealand. Menon has been named as the fourth umpire for the contest, after having served as the TV umpire for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup final in 2021. Illingworth will be making history in the ultimate Test, having stood as …