Despite its critics, the World Test Championship (WTC) appears to be fulfilling its intended purpose of increasing the significance and appeal of Test cricket in an era heavily influenced by franchise formats. But there are still a number of issues that require further scrutiny, including the structure of WTC, points deductions for slow over rates and the exclusion of full members Afghanistan, Ireland and Zimbabwe from the competition.

WTC matches feature two teams playing five-Test series against each other to earn points and rank in a league table. The top two nations after each two-year cycle then compete in a one-off final match to determine the champions. The first two cycles of the WTC saw New Zealand and Australia win their respective finals, with India finishing runner-up in both.

The 2025 WTC final will be played at Lord’s, the Home of Cricket, and will see first-time finalists South Africa take on defending champions Australia. The two sides are scheduled to meet from Wednesday 11 June. Hospitality tickets are available for the showdown at the iconic venue and can be purchased here.

England is chosen to host the final for a variety of reasons, including its rich cricket heritage and the fact that it has the best infrastructure for hosting Test matches in Europe. The WTC final is also held in June, which falls in early summer in England but the winter or monsoon season for most of the world’s other major cricket nations, meaning games face a greater risk of being disrupted by adverse weather conditions.