The World Test Championship, in a short period of time, has become the pinnacle of Test cricket, giving more meaning and context to the game's longest format. Since the first edition in 2019-2021, the WTC has had some exciting matches, with the greatest Test-playing nations competing to win the title of the best test-playing nation in the world. The World Test Championship Journey Image Source : Getty Images The World Test Championship Team India's bid to end their drought in ICC events ended in heartbreak after the Asian outfit were brushed aside by Kane Williamson's New Zealand in the final of the inaugural edition of the World Test Championship (WTC). While Rohit Sharma gets another chance to make amends for that loss against Australia in the upcoming WTC final at The Oval, Pat Cummins will be looking forward to his first ICC trophy as skipper. New Zealand's Kane Williamson went to the history books after winning the first WTC final in 2021 in Southampton. Kiwi pacer Kyle Jamieson became the first player to be named Player of the Match in a WTC final after his all-around heroics secured an eight-wicket victory for the Kiwis. Even though England could not grab the ticket to the WTC final on both occasions so far, finishing at third and fourth positions in 2019-2021 and 2021-2023 cycles, respectively on the WTC Points Table, their former skipper Joe Root is the highest run-scorer in WTC matches. He has accumulated 3575 runs in 42 matches with 11 centuries, the most in the competition. Australian batting ace Marnus Labuschagne is second with 3184 runs in just 32 outings and ten centuries to his name. In comparison, it is a much keener battle among the leaders in the wicket-taker's list, with spinners grabbing both the top two spots in that list. Australian spinner Nathan Lyon tops the wicket-takers column with 139 wickets in 33 matches. Veteran Indian offie Ravichandran Ashwin is hot on his tail with 132 wickets in six fewer matches than Lyon. Pat Cummins, Stuart Broad, and Tim Southee round off the list. Also Read | Top 10 Cricketers with Most Runs in Test Cricket | The Big Hitters WTC Winners and Runners-Up Image Source : Getty Images The following table indicates the list of winners and runners-up in the World Test Championship since its start: Year Winner Won By Runner Up 2021-2023 Australia 209 Runs India 2019-2021 New Zealand 8 Wickets India April 2016 Australia - - April 2015 South Africa - - April 2014 South Africa - - April 2013 South Africa - - April 2012 England - - April 2011 India - - April 2010 India - - April 2009 Australia - - April 2008 Australia - - April 2007 Australia - - April 2006 Australia - - April 2005 Australia - - April 2004 Australia - - April 2003 Australia - - WTC Winners with Captains and Player of the Match Image Source : ESPN The table below gives the two editions of the World Test Championship, with New Zealand winning the first edition and Australia winning the second. Year Winner Captain Man Of The Match 2021-23 Australia Pat Cummins Travis Head 2019-21 New Zealand Kane Williamson Kyle Jamieson WTC Winners with Captains and Player of the Match The following table gives the winners of the World Test Championship, the captains, and the Player of the Match in the respective finals. This table provides an overall summary of the most key persons involved in the success of World Test Championship wins. Most Successful Teams in the World Test Championship Image Source : Getty Images Most Successful Teams in the World Test Championship The following table summarizes the most successful teams in the World Test Championship in terms of titles won: WTC Team WTC Trophy WTC Winner New Zealand 1 time 2019-21 Australia 1 time 2021-23 This table shows the New Zealand and Australians' supremacy in the Test Championship of the World: each of the teams obtained one title for the respective first two editions of the championships. Also Read | Top 10 Bowlers With Most Wickets in Test Cricket | All-Time Greats Conclusion The World Test Championship has provided a new platform for teams to express their dominance in the longest format of the game. New Zealand won the first edition, and Australia clinched the second edition. Now, as the competition is entering its third cycle, excitement and anticipation are palpable among fans and experts as they await the next chapter in the battle for supremacy in Test cricket.
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