The World Test Championship (WTC) is a series of international cricket matches run by the ICC to determine the world test champion. The WTC was created to boost the prestige and appeal of test cricket in an era increasingly dominated by T20 franchise cricket.

The 2023-25 WTC cycle has only just concluded with South Africa finishing at the top of the league table after securing victories in eight out of 12 test matches, one draw and three losses. The Temba Bavuma-led Proteas were praised for their strength under pressure and achieving a remarkable feat by winning the final against Australia to win their first major trophy in 27 years.

Despite their success the Proteas have received criticism for their easy road to the final, particularly in not playing five-test series against some of the world’s best teams. However, this is not South Africa’s fault as the ICC has an obligation to ensure scheduling is fair. It is difficult to balance the interests of richer nations that play more five-test series, which attract more interest and money, with the needs of smaller, less affluent countries to avoid fixture fatigue and maintain a reasonable winning percentage.

There has also been criticism of the points deduction system for slow over-rates and the exclusion of non-full member countries like Afghanistan, Ireland and Zimbabwe. A solution to these problems would require changes to the governing body’s remit and priorities, but even this is unlikely to occur.