South African players celebrate (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
The International Cricket Council has announced the schedule for the 2025-27 World Test Championship cycle, featuring 71 matches between nine participating teams over two years.
The new edition begins on June 17 with Sri Lanka hosting Bangladesh in Galle. Australia will play the highest number of Test matches in the upcoming cycle with 22 games, while England follows closely with 21 matches. The two cricket powerhouses will face each other in the Ashes series in Australia later in 2025.
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India enters a new era under Shubman Gill's leadership, starting with their match against England at Headingley on June 20.
The team will compete in 18 Tests during the cycle, including home series against West Indies, South Africa, and Australia, along with away tours to England, Sri Lanka, and New Zealand.
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South Africa, the current world champions, have maintained an unbeaten record since August 2024 under Temba Bavuma's captaincy in nine consecutive Tests. Their first series in the new edition will be in Pakistan in October 2025, with their home fans waiting until September 2026 to see them play when they host Australia for three Test matches.
The championship structure continues to promote competitive Test cricket across the globe, with teams playing both home and away series. This format maintains the traditional essence of Test cricket while providing a structured championship framework. The complete schedule balances the number of matches for each team, with some nations playing more Tests than others based on various factors. This arrangement ensures continuous Test cricket action across different venues and conditions over the two-year period.
ICC WTC 2025-27 Full Match Schedule
| Team | Scheduled matches | ||
| Total | Home | Away | |
| Australia | 22 | England (5) New Zealand (4) Bangladesh (2) | West Indies (3) South Africa (3) India (5) |
| Bangladesh | 12 | Pakistan (2) West Indies (2) England (2) | Sri Lanka (2) South Africa (2) Australia (2) |
| England | 21 | India (5) New Zealand (3) Pakistan (3) | Australia (5) South Africa (3) Bangladesh (2) |
| India | 18 | West Indies (2) South Africa (2) Australia (5) | England (5) Sri Lanka (2) New Zealand (2) |
| New Zealand | 16 | West Indies (3) India (2) Sri Lanka (2) | England (3) Australia (4) Pakistan (2) |
| Pakistan | 13 | South Africa (2) Sri Lanka (2) New Zealand (2) | Bangladesh (2) West Indies (2) England (3) |
| South Africa | 14 | Australia (3) Bangladesh (2) England (3) | Pakistan (2) India (2) Sri Lanka (2) |
| Sri Lanka | 12 | Bangladesh (2) India (2) South Africa (2) | West Indies (2) Pakistan (2) New Zealand (2) |
| West Indies | 14 | Australia (3) Sri Lanka (2) Pakistan (2) | India (2) New Zealand (3) Bangladesh (2) |
The championship will witness several high-profile transitions and challenges, particularly with India's leadership change and South Africa's defense of their title. The extensive schedule across different continents and conditions will test the adaptability and consistency of all participating teams.The comprehensive fixture list demonstrates the ICC's commitment to Test cricket, with matches spread across traditional venues and featuring both established rivalries and emerging competitive fixtures. This schedule ensures regular Test cricket action while maintaining the format's prestigious status in international cricket.
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