*Official* WTC 2025-27

[Molehill]

So the new cycle kicks off tomorrow.

I came across this little Predictor Tool that even allows you to enter Over Rate Penalties for the fairly inevitable likelihood of English discrepancies (unless Stokes has a change of strategy).

World Test Championship Predictor

A quick run through (without using penalties) had it very tight at the top between 5 teams (SA, Aus, Ind, Eng, NZ), but basically impossible to predict. Surprise for me is that Aus play the most matches in this cycle, one more than England.

 

[Qlder]

Geez, India play 9 of the first 16 tests in the cycle

 

[Burgey]

Hard to see anything other than Australia dominating this yet again.

 

[StephenZA]

SA Vs NZ final...

 

[Molehill]

Hard to see anything other than Australia dominating this yet again.

Certainly with 9 home tests against their usual whipping boys, they're well set up for it. But not entirely certain they're going to find it as easy to take down those 2 this time.

 

[Thala_0710]

So the new cycle kicks off tomorrow.

I came across this little Predictor Tool that even allows you to enter Over Rate Penalties for the fairly inevitable likelihood of English discrepancies (unless Stokes has a change of strategy).

World Test Championship Predictor

A quick run through (without using penalties) had it very tight at the top between 5 teams (SA, Aus, Ind, Eng, NZ), but basically impossible to predict. Surprise for me is that Aus play the most matches in this cycle, one more than England.

I put in my predictions and it came up with Aus vs Nz for the final with India a close third

 

[Molehill]

I put in my predictions and it came up with Aus vs Nz for the final with India a close third

I had 5 teams within the 57-61% area, so a one win difference or the odd penalty point here or there would've given me two totally different finalists.

I think this could easily be the toughest cycle to predict yet, especially with both Aus and India likely to be going through a transitionary period.

 

[honestbharani]

I find it amazing coz its only 9 teams and surely they can find room to add one more home and away series to each team in the schedule and have all 8 playing each other (I know the Ind-Pak thing but still... rest can play).

 

[ashley bach]

Still the most Micky Mouse format under the sun. Guess it's better to have something than nothing I suppose.

 

[Molehill]

Still the most Micky Mouse format under the sun. Guess it's better to have something than nothing I suppose.

Totally agree on the format, and the way SA qualified for this one was utterly ridiculous. But it did still give us a decent Final so we shouldn't complain too much. My issue is still very much on the penalty points for slow over rates.....but we've kind of done that to death anyway.

 

[andruid]

1. Separate Test status and ICC full membership
2. Expand the WTC cycle to 4 years
3. Expand the WTC to incorporate all current test teams
4. Resurrect the Intercontinental Cup as a knockout competition with a slot in the next WTC cycle, at the expense of the bottom-placed WTC team.

 

[Skyliner]

A couple of posters tipping NZ. With a likely pace bowling attack including Henry, O'Rourke, Jamieson, Sears, and perhaps Duffy there's some tall timber there capable of extracting steepling bounce, plus seam and swing, at good pace. Should be a handy attack in pace friendly conditions. The main issue will be the batting side of the equation.

 

[Fuller Pilch]

Hard to see anything other than Australia dominating this yet again.

One win out of three (33%) is hardly dominating a competition.

 

[Burgey]

What do you mean? Played in two finals and would have both been in and easily won the first one were it not for idiotic over rate penalties.

 

[LangleyburyCCPlayer]

What do you mean? Played in two finals and would have both been in and easily won the first one were it not for idiotic over rate penalties.

Hi Ben!

 

[LangleyburyCCPlayer]

Sri Lanka-Bangladesh 1-1
England 3-2 India
Windies 0-3 Australia
India 2-0 Windies
Pakistan 0-0 S. Africa
India 2-0 S. Africa
NZ 3-0 Windies
Australia 4-1 England
Bangladesh 1-1 Pakistan
England 2-1 NZ
Windies 1-1 Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka 0-2 India
Windies 1-1 Pakistan
England 3-0 Pakistan
S. Africa 1-2 Australia
S. Africa 2-0 Bangladesh
Bangladesh 2-0 Windies
NZ 1-1 India
Pakistan 0-2 Sri Lanka
S. Africa 1-2 England
Australia 3-1 NZ
NZ 2-0 Sri Lanka
India 4-1 Australia
Bangladesh 0-2 England
Australia 2-0 Bangladesh
Sri Lanka 2-0 S. Africa
Pakistan 1-1 NZ

 

[LangleyburyCCPlayer]

My predictions come down to this, I initially had England winning 3-0 at home to NZ but thought that was a bit harsh on the Kiwis who absolutely slaughtered us in the 3rd Test over the winter in what should be fairly similar conditions to what we have here (both countries have become much more batter-friendly in recent times), which tightened that gap to Australia right up, it shows that, barring the inevitable over run penalty, England are right in this, India and Australia are somewhat vulnerable, so it wouldn't surprise me if England do better than what I have predicted (though I guess we'll do well to win in South Africa and Bangladesh will be a challenge based on how horribly we play spin)

 

[NZTailender]

 

[Burgey]

Sri Lanka-Bangladesh 1-1
England 3-2 India
Windies 0-3 Australia
India 2-0 Windies
Pakistan 0-0 S. Africa
India 2-0 S. Africa
NZ 3-0 Windies
Australia 4-1 England
Bangladesh 1-1 Pakistan
England 2-1 NZ
Windies 1-1 Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka 0-2 India
Windies 1-1 Pakistan
England 3-0 Pakistan
S. Africa 1-2 Australia
S. Africa 2-0 Bangladesh
Bangladesh 2-0 Windies
NZ 1-1 India
Pakistan 0-2 Sri Lanka
S. Africa 1-2 England
Australia 3-1 NZ
NZ 2-0 Sri Lanka
India 4-1 Australia
Bangladesh 0-2 England
Australia 2-0 Bangladesh
Sri Lanka 2-0 S. Africa
Pakistan 1-1 NZ

Mate you've got to be realistic.

 

[LangleyburyCCPlayer]

Mate you've got to be realistic.

Big talk considering Khawaja will still be playing for you then. We’ll probably have canned our Ollie Pope by then too, you’ll still have yours in Cam Green