Earlier this week the International Cricket Council (ICC) released the first ever international programme featuring a World Test Championship. The nine top-ranked Test nations will slug it out for the Test Championship over two two-year cycles.   The inaugural cycle will run from 15 July 2019 to 30 April 2021. The sides will play six series in a two-year cycle on a home and away basis against opponents they have “mutually selected”.  The series can consist of anywhere between two and five matches’ duration.  Points will be awarded for individual Test match wins, with matches in shorter series worth more.  The two top-ranked sides will then progress to the June 2021 final to decide the first World Test Champions. The ICC has been debating a Test Championship for many years.  The general consensus was that Test cricket (apart from the Ashes) lacked context – there was nothing meaningful to play for … Continue reading