World Test Championship 2021-2023

The longest form of cricket i.e., Test cricket was started in 1877. The first test match was played
between England and Australia in Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in Australia. Australian team emerged as the winner of the first test. This was a timeless test match it means that no specific number of days is fixed for playing and play will not stop until there is any result. The five days test cricket that we are familiar with was first played in 1985. From 1877 to 2021 we do not have a champion team in test cricket. It was in 2019 when ICC decided to conduct a World Test Championship to decide the first test champion among the test playing nations. It was in 2021 that the first Test Championship final was played between New Zealand team and the Indian side and New Zealand become the first Test Champions by defeating India.

Now it the time to start the next edition of WTC and ICC has announced the schedule of next WTC which will happen from 2021 to 2023. This edition of the WTC will start with the starting of the test series of England VS India in England in August. Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, West Indies. Each team will play only six series. Out of the six series three will be home series and three will be away series for each team. Afghanistan, Ireland, Zimbabwe are teams that are full test playing members of the ICC but will
not take part in WTC 2021-2023. The total number of matches each team will play is given below.


VS
India Australia England New
Zealand
Bangladesh South
Africa
Pakistan Sri
Lanka
West
Indies
India452233
Australia453222
England553333
New Zealand232222
Bangladesh 222222
South Africa333222
Pakistan232222
Sri Lanka322222
West Indies232222
Fixture of series of each team in WTC 2021-23
TeamsAway Home
India VSEngland, South Africa, Bangladesh New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Australia
Australia VSIndia, Pakistan, Sri LankaEngland, West Indies, South Africa
England VSAustralia, West Indies, Pakistan New Zealand, India, South Africa
New Zealand VSIndia, Pakistan, EnglandBangladesh, South Africa, Sri Lanka
Bangladesh VSNew Zealand, South Africa, West
Indies
India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka
South Africa VSNew Zealand, England, Australia India, West Indies, Bangladesh
Pakistan VSWest Indies, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka Australia, New Zealand, England
Sri Lanka VSBangladesh, India, New Zealand Australia, Sri Lanka, West Indies
West Indies VSSouth Africa, Sri Lanka, Australia Pakistan, England, Bangladesh
Away and home series of each team in WTC 21-23

This year point system is different from the first edition. This time each match will be worth of 12 points. A win would be of worth 12 points, a tie and draw would be of 6 and 4 points respectively and lose would be no points. Point will be deducted from the overall point as penalty if the over rate is behind the required over rate after every match. One point will get deducted for each over it was behind. The top two teams of the points table will qualify for the final schedule to be played in 2023 and dates are to be announced.

T20 world cup shifted from India to UAE AND OMAN

The T20 world cup 2021 will be held from October 17 to 14 November in UAE and OMAN as confirmed by the ICC on Tuesday. Matches will be played in four venues – Dubai International stadium, the sheikh Zayed stadium in Abu Dhabi, the OMAN Cricket Academy ground and Sharjah stadium. BCCI will remain the host of the event.

BCCI confirms T20 World Cup in UAE, Oman | Sports News,The Indian Express

It the heartbreaking news for Indian fans but because of the pandemic and keeping in mind safety of the players this decision has been taken by ICC and BCCI .Good news is that T20 World cup going held without any delay and fans can watch it on their TV or in phone .

“The ICC Men’s T20 world cup 2021 will be staged in UAE and OMAN due to the on going covid-19 situation in India” ICC said on their official release.

Acting ICC CEO Geoff Allardice said: “Our priority is to deliver the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 safely, in full and in its current window. Whilst we are incredibly disappointed not to be hosting the event in India, the decision gives us the certainty we need to stage the event in a country that is a proven international host of multi-team events in a bio-secure environment. We will work closely with the BCCI, the Emirates Cricket Board and Oman Cricket to ensure fans can enjoy a wonderful celebration of cricket.”

President BCCI Sourav Ganguly  said: “The BCCI is looking forward to hosting the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 tournament in UAE and Oman.  We would have been happier hosting it in India but considering the uncertainty due to the Covid -19 situation and the importance of a world championship, the BCCI will now continue to host this tournament in UAE and Oman. The BCCI is looking forward to creating a spectacle.”

BCCI Secretary, Jay Shah, said: “The BCCI made every effort to stage the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in India and provide its passionate fans with a reason to cheer after a long period of gloom. However, the prevailing pandemic situation in the country meant that the health and safety of everyone concerned was fraught with risk should a tournament of this stature is held across the country. The BCCI will continue to host the tournament, which will now be held in the UAE and Oman and work closely with the ICC to make it a memorable event.” 

Vice President Emirates Cricket Board, Khalid Al Zarooni said: “Emirates Cricket Board is honoured that the BCCI (Board of Cricket Control India) and the ICC (International Cricket Council) have entrusted us with staging and delivering the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. The UAE’s reputation as being a safe country in which to host high-profile sporting events is a strong compliment to our government’s unwavering commitment to implementing and monitoring effective health practices during the pandemic. Having hosted a number of high-profile tournaments in recent months our team is well-prepared and ready to mobilise to ensure the success of the T20 World Cup.”

Oman Cricket Chairman, Pankaj Khimji said, “It is indeed a great moment for Oman Cricket to be selected as a venue/host of the forthcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. We shall leave no stone unturned to exceed the requirements of BCCI and ICC. Oman will certainly extend a very warm welcome to all the teams, officials and media in October.” 

All you need to know about World Test Championship Final 2021

Amidst the unpredictable English weather, New Zealand and India fight for the most coveted title after near misses in their recent ICC campaigns

The WTC final will be taking place in spite of the global pandemic at the now-famous Ageas Bowl, cricket’s original bio-secure venue, which in 2020 showed the cricketing world how to ensure that the show can go on in these tough times. The contest will also feature, indisputably the best two Test teams in the world- India and New Zealand who are taking on each other on 18th of June, 2021.

The Indian team announced their playing XI on the eve of the final where it was confirmed that Rohit Sharma is going to open with Shubman Gill and Mayank Agarwal failed to make the cut. India is going with two spinners as Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin.

ICC WTC was played in two years cycle and the two teams at the top of the points table qualified for the final. India finished at the top of the points table with 12 wins in 17 matches while New Zealand won 7 out of 7 matches it played.

Here’s all you need to know about WTC 2021 Final

Start date – June 18, 2021

End date – June 22, 2021

Reserve day – June 23, 2021

Match starting time – 3:30 pm IST

Live broadcast on TV – Star Sports 1 and Star Sports 1 HD and Star Sports 1 Hindi and Star Sports 1 Hindi HD

Online streaming – Disney+Hotstar

Venue – Ageas Bowl, Southampton

Prize money – The winner of the ICC World Test Championship 2021 will get a purse of $1.6 million and the runners-up will receive a prize money of $800,000.

Playing Conditions –

Follow on-rule for WTC final

According to playing conditions of the five-day game, one team needs to have a lead of 200 runs, to enforce the follow-on. However, if the first day’s play has been washed out then the lead for follow-on rule is reduced to 150. But ICC has made a clarification in the rule stating that there is a reserve day for the WTC final thus if the first days is washed out then reserve day will come into play. Thus, to enforce a follow India and New Zealand need to have a lead of 200 or more runs.

What if final ends in a draw?
 

There has been talk that who will be declared the winner if final match  ends in a draw or tie. Ahead of the start of WTC in 2018, ICC has said that if final end a draw or tie, the the trophy will be shared and in its latest media statement, it maintained the same stance.

Pitch Report – As informed by the head groundsman, Simon Lee, the pitch for WTC final will have pace, bounce and carry due to ‘a lot of sun’ in Southampton. It is likely to favor swing bowling for the initial two days and might assist the spinners on the final two days of the test match.