India, having faced consecutive losses in the World Test Championship (WTC) finals, now confronts a tough draw in the upcoming edition of the tournament. The International Cricket Council (ICC) has revealed the complete schedule for the third edition of the WTC, featuring challenging matchups for top cricketing nations. Alongside India, Pakistan and Australia also find themselves in formidable groups, while South Africa enjoys a more advantageous draw.
The format of the tournament remains unchanged, with nine teams competing over a two-year period through a combination of home and away series. The championship will culminate in a final match.
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The highly anticipated Ashes series between Australia and England will kick off the third edition of the WTC, featuring five matches. The series commences in Birmingham and continues with matches at Lord’s, Leeds, Manchester, and The Oval.
Australia faces a demanding schedule in this cycle, engaging in nine away matches. They will participate in two-Test series against New Zealand and Sri Lanka. On home turf, Australia will contend with India (five matches), Pakistan (three matches), and the West Indies (two matches), totaling ten Tests.
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England, on the other hand, will play ten Tests at home and eleven away matches. They will host the West Indies (three matches) and Sri Lanka (two matches), in addition to facing Australia. Their away fixtures include matches against India (five matches), Pakistan (three matches), and New Zealand (three matches).
India’s forthcoming two-Test tour of the West Indies, featuring matches in Dominica and Trinidad, is part of the third edition of the WTC. Additionally, if India finishes as the runner-up in the championship, they will host New Zealand for a three-match series, England for five Tests, and Bangladesh for two matches. Alongside the West Indies, India will also embark on tours to Australia (five Tests) and South Africa (two Tests).
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South Africa appears to have received a more favorable schedule in this cycle. They will have the opportunity to host three Asian teams, namely Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and India. Their away fixtures include matches against New Zealand, the West Indies, and Bangladesh.
The structure of the WTC remains consistent, with each team participating in three home and three away series over a two-year period, leading to a one-off Test final. The leaderboard will be determined by the points percentage system used in the previous edition, with teams earning 12 points for a win, six points for a tie, and four points for a draw.