World Test Championship: how points and the final work
The ICC World Test Championship awards points for Test results and sends the top two teams to a final for the Test Mace.
The World Test Championship is a biennial Test cricket competition run by the ICC. Points from wins, ties and draws decide the table, with the top two teams meeting in the final.
Key takeaways
- The ICC organises the World Test Championship as a biennial Test cricket competition.
- The Oval will host the 2027 final from June 9 to June 13.
- Australia lead the table at 75%, with India fifth on 51.52%.
- A win earns 12 points, a tie six, a draw four and a loss none.
- The top two teams by percentage qualify for the final.
The ICC World Test Championship is a biennial world championship for Test cricket organised by the International Cricket Council. Cricketnews.com reported that The Oval will host the 2027 final from Wednesday, June 9 to Sunday, June 13. South Africa are the current champions, having defeated Australia in the 2025 final at Lord's. The 2025–2027 edition started on 17 June 2025 with Sri Lanka playing Bangladesh at Galle International Cricket Stadium.
When and where is it?
The 2025–2027 World Test Championship is scheduled to finish on 13 June 2027 with the final match at The Oval. cricketnews.com said England won the hosting rights for the 2027, 2029 and 2031 finals, and the England and Wales Cricket Board picks the ground for each edition. The Oval has staged the showpiece before, after Australia beat India there in 2023 to lift the mace.
Who is taking part?
Nine teams are still in the race for two places at The Oval. Australia lead the table at 75%, cricketnews.com reported. South Africa stand on 66.67%, New Zealand are on 72.22%, and India sit fifth on 51.52%. Bangladesh each stand at 3%, Sri Lanka at 0.2% and England at 0.1%, while West Indies and Pakistan are out of the race.
How does it work?
Each team plays six series, with each series counting for 120 points, distributed over the number of matches in a series, according to the ICC. A two-match series means 60 points for each Test while a three-match series gives 40 points to each Test match. Victory earns 12 points, a tie six, a draw four and a loss none. Slow over-rate penalties can reduce a team’s total. The standings use percentage of points earned, not raw points.
Every Test matters, and every point could decide a place in the final.
Why it matters
Australia hold the top spot, South Africa have found form again after their win in Gqeberha, and India are fighting an uphill battle, cricketnews.com said. India need near-perfect results from their seven remaining Tests. They cannot afford more than one defeat across the New Zealand tour and the home series against Australia combined. South Africa are the defending champions after ending their long wait for a major ICC trophy in 2025.
WTC standings and qualification chances
Team | Points percentage | Status |
|---|---|---|
Australia | 75.00% | Lead table |
New Zealand | 72.22% | Strong base |
South Africa | 66.67% | Defending champions |
India | 51.52% | Fifth place |
Bangladesh | 3% | In race |
Sri Lanka | 0.2% | In race |
England | 0.1% | In race |
What happens next
Australia’s remaining fixtures include the third Test against South Africa in Cape Town, a four-match Test series against New Zealand, followed by the five-Test Border-Gavaskar Trophy in India in early 2027. New Zealand face a two-Test home series against India in late November, followed by a trip to Australia. India have seven Tests left, worth 84 points, and must win at least five and draw one, or win six, to reach a safe mark of around 64%.
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