Test Mace – WTC?s Trophy Explained

Test Mace: WTC’s Trophy Explained

It has been a few days since Temba Bavuma and his team lifted the coveted Test Mace at Edgbaston, clinching a historic victory in the first ever World Test Championship cycle. It has been a long road to the final but the Proteas Men have stayed true to their values and remain determined to maintain the positive momentum.

The WTCricket launched the World Test Championship in 2019 with the intention of adding context to bilateral Test series by making each match count towards the overall standings over a two-year cycle. Unlike the World Cups in the ODI and T20I formats, which are based on a single tournament structure, the WTC is a more flexible system. Rather than having to play a specific number of matches, teams will have to choose how many Tests they want to play each cycle and the remainder of their time in international cricket will be spent playing for other competitions.

To achieve this, the ICC has devised a unique points system. Teams are awarded one point for each Test they win in a two-year cycle and ranking is based on their percentage of points won (PCT). This ensures that all teams have an equal opportunity to reach the final irrespective of the amount of Test matches played.

This year, the top two teams will qualify for the final by finishing with the highest PCT at the end of the league stage. The winner of the World Test Championship will be crowned at a neutral venue, and the runner-up will receive USD $3.6 million (INR 30 crore approx) and $2.16 million (INR 18 crore approx), a significant increase from the prize money awarded to previous winners and runner-ups.