The World Test Championship was introduced in 2021 and is a new format aimed at increasing the importance of the longer form of cricket. It replaced the ICC Champions Trophy and will see each team play six series in the cycle – three home and three away. This will ensure that lower-ranked teams continue to face top-tier opposition, preserving both visibility and commercial viability.
South Africa and Australia meet in the final at Lord’s this week, a fixture that will showcase the most important form of international cricket. It is a match that has the potential to crown a worthy champion in an era where shorter formats have overshadowed Test cricket in some countries, leaving national boards struggling with declining attendances and declining revenues.
Despite a rocky start to the 2023-25 WTC cycle — including a poor start to the season and a slow accumulation of points — South Africa emerged as an unlikely tournament force. Their victory over Australia in the 2025 final, secured by Aiden Markram’s magnificent century and an outstanding performance from captain Temba Bavuma, ended years of tournament heartache that included repeated failures at one-day and T20 world cups. AFP Sport looks at three key factors that contributed to the Proteas’ triumph.
