by The International Cricket Council (ICC) has unveiled the full schedule for the 2025–27 World Test Championship (WTC) — the fourth edition aimed at sustaining the prestige of Test cricket through structured, competitive bilateral series. Here’s everything you need to know about the upcoming cycle set to start in June 2025.
🗓️ Cycle Overview & Key Dates
- Start date: June 17, 2025, with Sri Lanka hosting Bangladesh in Galle
- Finals: Scheduled mid‑June 2027 at Lord’s, London
- Total matches: 27 series comprising 71 Tests across nine full-member teams
- Format: Each team will play six series—three home, three away. Series length varies from 2 to 5 Tests
🌎 First Month Fixtures
- June 17–21, 2025: Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh – Galle (2 Tests)
- June 20–?: India vs England – Headingley kickoff (5 Tests)
These early series set the tone, with marquee matchups between major cricketing nations attracting global viewership and fanfare.
🔢 Number of Tests Per Team
According to published fixtures:
- Australia: 22 Tests (most in this cycle.
- England: 21 Tests
- India: 18 Tests — includes home series vs West Indies (2), South Africa (2), Australia (5), and away tours to England, Sri Lanka, New Zealand
- South Africa: 14 Tests
- Bangladesh & Sri Lanka: ~12–14 Tests each
🏁 Highlight Series to Look Out For
- Border–Gavaskar Trophy (India vs Australia): 5-Test series climaxing in early 2027
- Ashes 2025–26 (England vs Australia): 5-Test series in Australia (Nov 2025–Jan 2026), part of the cycle
- India Tour of England (June–Aug 2025): A full-fledged 5-Test affair
- South Africa in Pakistan (Oct 2025): A two-Test battle included in WTC
🧭 Format & Points Breakdown
- Points per Test: 12 for a win, 6 for a tie, 4 for a draw, with over-rate penalties for delay
- Team rankings via percentage of points earned — efficiency over volume
💡 Impact & Expectations
- More Test cricket: 71 high-stakes matches over two years minimizes the frequency of short bilateral series
- Competitive saturation: Heavyweights like Australia and England play ~4 series per year, offering fans consistent storyline-driven encounters
- Smaller nations’ exposure: Sri Lanka and Bangladesh get 12–14 Tests, helping maintain competitiveness and visibility mykhel.com
🌐 Calendar Snapshot — First Year (June 2025–June 2026)
| Month | Key Series |
|---|---|
| June 2025 | SL vs BAN (Galle), IND vs ENG (Headingley start) |
| June–Jul 2025 | Aus tour Caribbean — 3 Tests (Barbados, Grenada, Jamaica) |
| Nov–Dec 2025 | South Africa in India (2 Tests) |
| Nov 2025–Jan 2026 | Ashes in Australia (5 Tests) |
| 2025–27 Cycle | Border–Gavaskar Trophy early 2027 |
🔮 What to Expect from the Cycle
- Strategic Depth: Teams will need to balance peak performance across formats, manage workload, and adapt quickly between home/away conditions.
- Fan Engagement: High-profile rivalries like Ashes and India-Australia Tests will drive massive interest.
- Global Reach: South Africa’s rise will boost competitiveness; new venues in West Indies and Pakistan diversify WTC stage.
✅ Final Takeaway
The 2025–27 World Test Championship promises a thrilling marathon of 71 Tests involving nine top cricketing nations. With iconic rivalries, key touring campaigns, and a final at Lord’s in 2027, the cycle is designed to strengthen Test cricket’s appeal, relevance, and competitive intensity.
Stay tuned to track every fixture, follow team progress, and immerse yourself in two years of pure Test cricket drama.
