News

World Test Championship 2023-25 cycle commences with the England-Australia series

Published

3 years ago

June 14, 2023

Editor

Australia begins their defence of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) title in a high-profile series against England after winning the second edition with an emphatic 209-run victory over India in the final at The Oval on Sunday.

The five-match Ashes series begins in Birmingham on Friday with Lord’s, Leeds, Manchester and The Oval hosting the remaining matches.

Australia play nine matches in this cycle away from home, which include two-Test series against New Zealand and Sri Lanka. At home, they play against India (five), Pakistan (three) and the West Indies (two), for a total of 10 Tests.

England feature in 10 Tests at home and 11 away. They host the West Indies (3) and Sri Lanka (2) apart from Australia, while playing away in India (five), Pakistan (3) and New Zealand (3).

India’s two-Test tour of the West Indies, where they play in Dominica and Trinidad next month, is also part of the third edition of the WTC.

The structure of the nine-team WTC remains the same with each team playing three home and three away series over a two-year period culminating in the final of a one-off Test. The points percentage system used in the previous edition will determine the leaderboard with teams getting 12 points for a win, six for a tie and four for a draw.

The series in the championship remains as per the Men’s FTP announced last year. The media release distributed at the time of the announcement of the Men’s FTP is available here.

Wasim Khan, ICC’s General Manager of Cricket said the WTC had been great in enhancing interest in Test cricket and wished players all the best ahead of the new cycle.

Wasim Khan: “The third edition of the ICC World Test Championship begins on Friday with another highly anticipated series between England and Australia.

“This championship has invigorated Test match cricket, bringing context for players and fans, and a high level of competitiveness as teams battle it out to be crowned World Test Champions at the end of the two-year cycle.

“The big turnout out at The Oval over the five days and the incredible viewership levels across the globe for the final is testimony to the continued popularity of Test cricket.

“I would like to thank the Member Boards for their continued support of this exciting concept and wish the players all the very best as they commence their journey towards becoming World Test Champions in 2025”.

Captains Ben Stokes of England and Pat Cummins of Australia said they were excited and hoped to start well.

Ben Stokes: “We are looking forward to the new cycle of the World Test Championship, and hope we get off to a good start.

“The Ashes combined with World Test Championship points makes it an intriguing series against Australia. I am sure fans worldwide will be following the proceedings with eagerness. We are excited, for what the English summer holds.”

Pat Cummins: “It has been a very enjoyable and rewarding journey through this World Test Championship and we very much look forward to the next cycle.

“It was a goal of ours to reach the final and the fact we were able to win is a great outcome for the group. It’s a great start to our UK tour but there’s plenty of hard work still to be done over the next five Test matches.”

WTC Fixtures Table

WTC 3	Home						Away
2023-25	Opp1	H	Opp2	H	Opp3	H	Opp1	A	Opp2	A	Opp3	A
AUS	IND	5	WI	2	PAK	3	NZ	2	ENG	5	SL	2
BAN	NZ	2	SA	2	SL	2	IND	2	WI	2	PAK	2
ENG	AUS	5	WI	3	SL	2	NZ	3	IND	5	PAK	3
IND	NZ	3	ENG	5	BAN	2	AUS	5	WI	2	SA	2
NZ	AUS	2	ENG	3	SA	2	IND	3	BAN	2	SL	2
PAK	ENG	3	WI	2	BAN	2	AUS	3	SA	2	SL	2
SA	IND	2	PAK	2	SL	2	NZ	2	WI	2	BAN	2
SL	NZ	2	AUS	2	PAK	2	ENG	2	SA	2	BAN	2
WI	IND	2	SA	2	BAN	2	AUS	2	ENG	3	PAK	2

Cricket

Dilshan Madushanka Earns IPL Opportunity with Sunrisers Hyderabad

Published

9 hours ago

April 14, 2026

Editor

Sri Lankan pace sensation Dilshan Madushanka has secured a spot in the Indian Premier League, stepping in as a replacement player for Sunrisers Hyderabad. The franchise announced his inclusion after England fast bowler Brydon Carse was ruled out of the tournament due to injury.

Madushanka, known for his sharp left-arm pace and ability to swing the ball early, joins the squad as a like-for-like replacement. His addition comes at a crucial stage in the tournament, where teams are looking to fine-tune their combinations for a strong finish.

Sunrisers Hyderabad have been actively reshaping their bowling unit, and Madushanka’s arrival is expected to add both variety and depth. His international experience, particularly in high-pressure situations, makes him a valuable asset as the team navigates the latter half of the competition.

For Madushanka, this opportunity marks another significant milestone in his growing career. Having already impressed on the global stage with his pace and wicket-taking ability, the IPL now offers him a platform to showcase his skills among some of the best players in the world.

Cricket

Chamindu Wickramasinghe’s bowling action under scrutiny?

Published

2 days ago

April 13, 2026

Editor

Sri Lankan fast bowler Chamindu Wickramasinghe has come under the spotlight after his bowling action was officially reported as suspicious during a recent domestic encounter.

The incident occurred in a match of the National Super League held from April 6 to 9, where the Dambulla side faced Colombo. Wickramasinghe, representing Dambulla, drew attention from match officials, prompting concerns over the legality of his action.

The on-field umpires, Deepal Gunawardena and Ravindra Wimalasiri, made the report in accordance with standard procedures. Match referee Manoj Mendis also oversaw the process, ensuring that all regulations were followed.

Following the report, the matter has been referred to the Sri Lanka Cricket High Performance Unit for further assessment. Wickramasinghe may now be required to undergo biomechanical testing to determine whether his bowling action complies with the laws of the game.

Cricket

Sri Lanka lasses continue to impress

Published

2 days ago

April 13, 2026

Editor

Sri Lanka Under-19 Women extended their impressive run in the Tri-Series with a composed four-wicket victory over Australia Women Under-19 cricket team at Bill Pippen Oval Today.

After being put in to bat, Australia U-19 struggled to build momentum against a disciplined Sri Lankan bowling attack. Ayla Johnson top-scored with 18 off 29 balls, while Alyssa Dermody added a quick 13. However, regular wickets halted their progress as they finished on a modest 91 for 9 in 20 overs. Limansa Thilakarathne led the bowling effort with an impressive 3 for 26, well supported by Chamudi Praboda, who claimed 2 for 21.

In response, Sri Lanka Women Under-19 cricket team chased down the target with 92 for 6 in 19.3 overs. Despite a few setbacks, Pramudi Methsara anchored the innings with an unbeaten 21 off 17 balls, while Danodya Sewmini contributed a steady 14. Australia’s Filippa Suesee (3 for 18) and Ira Aery (2 for 13) fought hard, but Sri Lanka held their nerve.