England to host World Test Championship in 2017

South Africa are currently ranked No.1 in the world in Test cricket and Graeme Smith, the captain, said the tournament provided an added incentive for teams to move up the rankings. © Getty Images

England will host the first edition of the World Test Championship in 2017, which will feature four teams. Qualification for the event will be based on the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Test rankings as on December 31, 2016, with the qualification period running from May 2013 to December 2016.

“The objective of the championship is to preserve the primacy of Tests and to preserve the future of all formats of the game,” said David Richardson, the ICC chief executive on Saturday (October 12). Richardson was speaking at the launch event of the Test Championship in Abu Dhabi.

The top four teams according to the ICC Test rankings will compete in the event, with a total prize money of $US 10 million at stake. “The qualification pathway for the ICC World Test Championship will be through the ICC Test team rankings and the top four teams at the conclusion of the qualification period will qualify for the event in 2017, with the qualifying period being from 1 May 2013 through to 31 December 2016,” said Richardson.

Richardson said that the format of the tournament would be discussed at the ICC cricket committee meetings.

The tournament, originally planned for 2013 but delayed due to broadcasters’ demand for a limited-overs event, is set to replace the Champions Trophy, the last edition of which was won by India in England in June this year.

South Africa are currently ranked No.1 in the world in Test cricket and Graeme Smith, the captain, said the tournament provided an added incentive for teams to move up the rankings. “It’s fantastic to have a pathway clearly identified for the World Test Championship and to know that the top four teams will have a chance to battle it out to be crowned the ultimate champions,” said Smith. “It adds a new meaning for all the Test teams when it comes to the rankings and the context of all Test series.”

South Africa will take on Pakistan in a two-Test series starting on Monday in Abu Dhabi. Misbah-ul-Haq, the Pakistan captain, said the Test Championship would give bilateral series added context and also revive interest in Test cricket.

“Test cricket is a journey and it’s the pinnacle of our game,” said Misbah. “It will add even more context to all the bilateral series that the Test sides play, and ultimately gives each team a chance to be world champions in Test cricket. The championship will add value to Test cricket, interest in which is dying because of Twenty20.”