The idea of a competition to decide the world’s best Test cricket team was first mooted by Clive Lloyd back in 1996, but it took years of careful discussion – involving many stakeholders – and meticulous preparations before the inaugural World Test Championship was launched at an ICC meeting in Dubai in 2010. The championship is based on an initial league stage over a four-year period, with the top teams from that advancing to a knock out finals stage that will culminate in a series of matches to determine the world champions.

England were favored to host the 2025 final because it falls during their summer, and offers more predictability over the weather than other locations such as India, where matches would be more likely to be disrupted by rain or adverse conditions. The ECB’s successful staging of recent finals also contributed to their being chosen as hosts.

South Africa had an easy road to the final because they did not play Australia or England during this WTC cycle. This was despite a record-breaking series win against Pakistan, and a remarkable run of eight straight victories that saw them become the number one Test team in the world. Their success was helped by the emergence of Temba Bavuma as their first Black captain and the addition of the world’s best spinner to the Proteas’ line-up.

In a thrilling match, South Africa defeated Australia by 172 runs at Lord’s to win their first ICC trophy. They were bowled out for 188 on the first day, before a brilliant 141 from Graeme Smith and a brisk half century from AB de Villiers saw them cruise to victory.