2019–2021 ICC World Test Championship

The 2019–2021 ICC World Test Championship was the inaugural edition of the ICC World Test Championship of Test cricket.^[1] It started on 1 August 2019 with the first Test of the 2019 Ashes series,^[2] and finished with the Final at the Rose Bowl, Southampton in June 2021.

2019–2021 ICC World Test Championship

Dates	1 August 2019 – 23 June 2021
Administrator(s)	International Cricket Council
Cricket format	Test cricket
Tournament format(s)	League and Final
Host(s)	various
Champions	New Zealand (1st title)
Runners-up	India
Participants	9
Matches	61
Most runs	Marnus Labuschagne (1675)
Most wickets	Ravichandran Ashwin (71)
Official website	icc-cricket.com/world-test-championship
2021–2023 →

It came nearly a decade after the International Cricket Council (ICC) first approved the idea for a World Test Championship in 2010, and following two cancelled attempts to hold the inaugural competition in 2013 and 2017.

It featured nine of the twelve Test playing nations,^[3][4] each of whom was scheduled to play a Test series against six of the other eight teams. Each series consisted of between two and five matches, so although all teams were to play six series (three at home and three away), they were not scheduled to play the same number of Tests. Each team were able to score a maximum of 120 points from each series and the two teams with the most points at the end of the league stage would contest the final.^[5] In the case of a draw or a tie in the final, the two teams playing the final would be declared joint champions.^[5] However, the COVID-19 pandemic impacted on the Championship, with several rounds of matches being postponed or cancelled. In November 2020, the ICC announced that the finalists would be decided by percentage of points earned.^[6][7]

Some of the Test series in this Championship were part of a longer ongoing series, such as the 2019 Ashes series.^[5] Also, some of these nine teams would play additional Test matches during this period which were not part of this Championship, as part of the ICC Future Tours Programme for 2018–23, mainly to give games to the three Test playing sides not taking part in this competition.^[5] On 29 July 2019, the ICC officially launched the World Test Championship.^[8]

On 2 February 2021, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Australia postponed their away series against South Africa, resulting in a guaranteed berth in the final for New Zealand.^[9][10] On 6 March 2021, India also confirmed their berth for the final, after beating England by 3–1 in a home Test series.^[11] The final saw New Zealand win by eight wickets, securing their second global cricket title after their 2000 ICC KnockOut Trophy win.^[12]

Format

The tournament was played over two years. Each team were scheduled to play six other opponents, three at home and three away. Each series consisted of between two and five Test matches. Therefore, all participants did not play the same number of Tests, but played the same number of series. At the end of the league stage the top two teams played in the final.^[13] Each match is scheduled for a duration of five days.

Point scoring

The ICC decided that the same number of points would be available from each series, regardless of series length, so that countries that played fewer Tests were not disadvantaged. It also decided that points would not be awarded for series results, but for match results only. These would be split equally between all the matches in the series, regardless of whether or not a match was a dead rubber,^[14] so that every match counted.^[15] In a five-match series, therefore, 20% of the points would be available each match, while in a two-match series, 50% of the points would be available each match.

Therefore, depending on whether the series is 2, 3, 4 or 5 matches long, the number of points awarded for a single match win would be a half, a third, a quarter, or a fifth of the maximum possible from the series. The ICC also decided that a tie should be worth half of a win and that a draw should be worth a third of a win.^[16] This all meant that after each match, a side could be awarded a half, a third, a quarter, a fifth, a sixth, an eighth, a ninth, a tenth, a twelfth or a fifteenth of the total points available from the series, depending on the result and how many matches the series happened to consist of. Ultimately, this meant a figure for the total points available from the series needs to be picked very carefully, as not many numbers give all integers when split into all these different fractions (360 does). Being a highly composite number, when 120 was split into all these fractions, an integer was obtained in all cases except one – the points awarded for a draw in a 3-match series should be 131⁄3 (a third of a third of 120), but the 1⁄3 had been dropped.^{[citation needed]}

Each series would therefore carry a maximum of 120 points with points distributed as follows:

Distributions of points in ICC World Test Championship^[17]

Matches in series	Points for a win	Points for a tie	Points for a draw	Points for a defeat
2	60	30	20	0
3	40	20	13	0
4	30	15	10	0
5	24	12	8	0

A team that was behind the required over rate at the end of a match would have two competition points deducted for each over it was behind.^[18] In January 2020, South Africa became the first team to be docked World Test Championship points, after a slow over-rate in the fourth Test against England.^[19]

Participants

The nine full members of the ICC who participated:

•   Australia
•   Bangladesh
•   England
•   India
•   New Zealand
•   Pakistan
•   South Africa
•   Sri Lanka
•   West Indies

Since each team played only six of the eight possible opponents, the ICC announced that India and Pakistan would not play against each other in the first and second editions of the tournament.

The three full members of the ICC who did not participate:

•   Afghanistan
•   Ireland
•   Zimbabwe

These were the three lowest ranked full members of the ICC. They had been included in the ICC Future Tours Programme; they played a number of Test matches during this period against Championship participants and each other^[a] but these did not have bearing on the Championship.^[b]

Schedule

The schedule for the World Test Championship was announced by the ICC on 20 June 2018, as part of the 2018–2023 Future Tours Programme.^[20]

Rather than being a full round-robin tournament in which everyone played everyone else equally, each team played only six of the other eight.

Home \ Away
Australia	—	—	—	1–2 [4]	3–0 [3]	2–0 [2]	—	—	—
Bangladesh	Cancelled [2]	—	—	—	Cancelled [2]	—	—	—	0–2 [2]
England	2–2 [5]	—	—	—	—	1–0 [3]	—	—	2–1 [3]
India	—	2–0 [2]	3–1 [4]	—	—	—	3–0 [3]	—
New Zealand	—	—	—	2–0 [2]	—	2–0 [2]	—	—	2–0 [2]
Pakistan	—	1–0 [1]*	—	—	—	—	2–0 [2]	1–0 [2]	—
South Africa	Cancelled [3]	—	1–3 [4]	—	—	—	—	2–0 [2]	—
Sri Lanka	—	1–0 [2]	0–2 [2]	—	1–1 [2]	—	—	—	—
West Indies	—	—	—	0–2 [2]	—	—	0–2 [2]	0–0 [2]	—

Updated to match(es) played on 21 June 2021. Source: icc-cricket The numbers in square brackets are the numbers of matches in the series.
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Therefore, the total number of matches played by each team (home and away) in this tournament, and the two countries that each side did not face in this tournament, were as follows. (Note: This was not the total Test matches played by each team during this period, as some countries did play further matches during this period which were not part of this Championship, as part of the ICC Future Tours Programme for 2018–23. Some of these may be against the opponents they did not play in this Championship.)

Team	Scheduled matches			Not scheduled to play against
	Total	Home	Away
Australia	19	9	10	Sri Lanka	West Indies
Bangladesh	12	6	6	England	South Africa
England	21	11	10	Bangladesh	New Zealand
India	17	9	8	Pakistan	Sri Lanka
New Zealand	13	6	7	England	South Africa
Pakistan	13	6	7	India	West Indies
South Africa	16	9	7	Bangladesh	New Zealand
Sri Lanka	12	6	6	Australia	India
West Indies	13	6	7	Australia	Pakistan

All the series were mutually agreed between the two nations involved;^[20] this had led to allegations that the schedule has been agreed based on what would provide the biggest television audiences, and therefore television receipts,^[21] rather than selecting an even spread of teams.

Since each team played a different set of opponents, they can be considered as having an easier or harder schedules.

COVID-19 pandemic

Main article: Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cricket

The COVID-19 pandemic impacted on international cricket fixtures, including matches in the Championship. In March 2020, the second Test match between Pakistan and Bangladesh was postponed due to the pandemic.^[22] Later the same month, the two-match series between Sri Lanka and England was also postponed.^[23] The following month saw Australia's tour to Bangladesh and the West Indies tour to England being postponed.^[24][25] In June 2020, the two-match series between Bangladesh and New Zealand and the three-match series between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh were both postponed.^[26][27] South Africa's tour of the West Indies was postponed, after the fixtures clashed with the West Indies rescheduled tour to England.^[28][29]

On 29 July 2020, the ICC confirmed that their attention had moved to the fixtures in the World Test Championship, with their priority on rescheduling the six Test series that had been postponed.^[30] The ICC ultimately accepted several series would not take place as part of the Championship and changed the points system to account for the variation in the number of series played per team.^[6][7]

Prize money

The International Cricket Council declared a total prize money pool of US$3.8 million for the tournament. The prize money was allocated according to the performance of the team as follows:^[31]

Position	Prize money (US$)
Winner	$1,600,000
Runner-up	$800,000
Third	$450,000
Fourth	$350,000
Fifth	$200,000
Sixth	$100,000
Seventh	$100,000
Eighth	$100,000
Ninth	$100,000
Total	$3,800,000

The winning team also got the ICC Test Championship Mace, previously presented to the top team in ICC Men's Test Team Rankings at the April cutoff-date of a year between 2003 and 2019.

League table

Pos.	Team		Series					Matches						Con.	Pts.	±	Pct.	RpW Ratio
			P	W	L	D		P	W	L	D	T
1	India		6	5	1	0		17	12	4	1	0		720	520	0	72.2	1.577
2	New Zealand		5	3	1	1		11	7	4	0	0		600	420	0	70.0	1.281
3	Australia		4	2	1	1		14	8	4	2	0		480	332	4^[c]	69.2	1.392
4	England		6	4	1	1		21	11	7	3	0		720	442	0	61.4	1.120
5	South Africa		5	2	3	0		13	5	8	0	0		600	264	6^[d]	44.0	0.787
6	Pakistan		5.5	3	3	0		12	4	5	3	0		660	286	0	43.3	0.822
7	Sri Lanka		6	1	3	2		12	2	6	4	0		720	200	0	27.8	0.729
8	West Indies		6	1	4	1		13	3	8	2	0		720	194	6^[e]	26.9	0.661
9	Bangladesh		3.5	0	4	0		7	0	6	1	0		420	20	0	4.8	0.601
Last updated: 22 June 2021. Source: International Cricket Council,^[34] ESPNcricinfo^[35]

•   Teams qualified for final
• The top two teams advanced to the final.
• Teams were ranked by PCT. If two teams were tied on PCT, then they were ranked by Runs Per Wicket Ratio. If teams were still tied, ranking was determined by matches won in series between the teams, finally by ranking in the Men's Test Team Rankings as at 30 April 2021.^[36]
• Under the original rules, teams were ranked first by points. If two teams were tied on points, the team that won more series was ranked higher. If teams were still equal, the runs per wicket ratio was used.^[37] This ranking system was amended in November 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic causing some series to be cancelled, meaning not all teams would compete for the same number of points.^[7]

League stage

For matches played in Australia, scores are listed in the Australian format of wickets/runs.

2019

Further information: International cricket in 2019

The Ashes (England v Australia)

Main article: 2019 Ashes series

1–5 August 2019 Scorecard

Australia   284 (80.4 overs) & 487/7d (112 overs)

v

England 374 (135.5 overs) & 146 (52.3 overs)

Australia won by 251 runs Edgbaston, Birmingham Points: Australia 24, England 0

14–18 August 2019 Scorecard

England   258 (77.1 overs) & 258/5d (71 overs)

v

Australia 250 (94.3 overs) & 154/6 (47.3 overs)

Match drawn Lord's, London Points: England 8, Australia 8

22–26 August 2019 Scorecard

Australia   179 (52.1 overs) & 246 (75.2 overs)

v

England 67 (27.5 overs) & 362/9 (125.4 overs)

England won by 1 wicket Headingley, Leeds Points: England 24, Australia 0

4–8 September 2019 Scorecard

Australia   497/8d (126 overs) & 186/6d (42.5 overs)

v

England 301 (107 overs) & 197 (91.3 overs)

Australia won by 185 runs Old Trafford, Manchester Points: Australia 24, England 0

12–16 September 2019 Scorecard

England   294 (87.1 overs) & 329 (95.3 overs)

v

Australia 225 (68.5 overs) & 263 (76.6 overs)

England won by 135 runs The Kia Oval, London Points: England 24, Australia 0

Sri Lanka v New Zealand

Main article: New Zealand cricket team in Sri Lanka in 2019

14–18 August 2019 Scorecard

New Zealand   249 (83.2 overs) & 285 (106 overs)

v

Sri Lanka 267 (93.2 overs) & 268/4 (86.1 overs)

Sri Lanka won by 6 wickets Galle International Stadium, Galle Points: Sri Lanka 60, New Zealand 0

22–26 August 2019 Scorecard

Sri Lanka   244 (90.2 overs) & 122 (70.2 overs)

v

New Zealand 431/6d (115 overs)

New Zealand won by an innings and 65 runs P. Sara Oval, Colombo Points: New Zealand 60, Sri Lanka 0

West Indies v India

Main article: Indian cricket team in the West Indies and the United States in 2019

22–26 August 2019 Scorecard

India   297 (96.4 overs) & 343/7d (112.3 overs)

v

West Indies 222 (74.2 overs) & 100 (26.5 overs)

India won by 318 runs Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Antigua Points: India 60, West Indies 0

30 August–3 September 2019 Scorecard

India   416 (140.1 overs) & 168/4d (54.4 overs)

v

West Indies 117 (47.1 overs) & 210 (59.5 overs)

India won by 257 runs Sabina Park, Jamaica Points: India 60, West Indies 0

2019–20

Further information: International cricket in 2019–20

Freedom Trophy (India v South Africa)

Main article: South African cricket team in India in 2019–20

2–6 October 2019 Scorecard

India   502/7d (136 overs) & 323/4d (67 overs)

v

South Africa 431 (131.2 overs) & 191 (63.5 overs)

India won by 203 runs Dr. Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA–VDCA Cricket Stadium, Visakhapatnam Points: India 40, South Africa 0

10–14 October 2019 Scorecard

India   601/5d (156.3 overs)

v

South Africa 275 (105.4 overs) & 189 (67.2 overs) (f/o)

India won by an innings and 137 runs Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune Points: India 40, South Africa 0

19–23 October 2019 Scorecard

India   497/9d (116.3 overs)

v

South Africa 162 (56.2 overs) & 133 (48 overs) (f/o)

India won by an innings and 202 runs JSCA International Stadium Complex, Ranchi Points: India 40, South Africa 0

India v Bangladesh

Main article: Bangladeshi cricket team in India in 2019–20

14–18 November 2019 Scorecard

Bangladesh   150 (58.3 overs) & 213 (69.2 overs)

v

India 493/6d (114 overs)

India won by an innings and 130 runs Holkar Stadium, Indore Points: India 60, Bangladesh 0

22–26 November 2019 (D/N) Scorecard

Bangladesh   106 (30.3 overs) & 195 (41.1 overs)

v

India 347/9d (89.4 overs)

India won by an innings and 46 runs Eden Gardens, Kolkata Points: India 60, Bangladesh 0

Australia v Pakistan

Main article: Pakistani cricket team in Australia in 2019–20

21–25 November 2019 Scorecard

Pakistan   240 (86.2 overs) & 335 (84.2 overs)

v

Australia 580 (157.4 overs)

Australia won by an innings and 5 runs The Gabba, Brisbane Points: Australia 60, Pakistan 0

29 November – 3 December 2019 (D/N) Scorecard

Australia   589/3d (127 overs)

v

Pakistan 302 (94.4 overs) & 239 (82 overs) (f/o)

Australia won by an innings and 48 runs Adelaide Oval, Adelaide Points: Australia 60, Pakistan 0

Pakistan v Sri Lanka

Main article: Sri Lankan cricket team in Pakistan in 2019–20

11–15 December 2019 Scorecard

Sri Lanka   308/6d (97 overs)

v

Pakistan 252/2 (70 overs)

Match drawn Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi Points: Pakistan 20, Sri Lanka 20

19–23 December 2019 Scorecard

Pakistan   191 (59.3 overs) & 555/3d (131 overs)

v

Sri Lanka 271 (85.5 overs) & 212 (62.5 overs)

Pakistan won by 263 runs National Stadium, Karachi Points: Pakistan 60, Sri Lanka 0

Trans-Tasman Trophy (Australia v New Zealand)

Main article: New Zealand cricket team in Australia in 2019–20

12–16 December 2019 (D/N) Scorecard

Australia   416 (146.2 overs) & 9/217d (69.1 overs)

v

New Zealand 166 (55.2 overs) & 171 (65.3 overs)

Australia won by 296 runs Perth Stadium, Perth Points: Australia 40, New Zealand 0

26–30 December 2019 Scorecard

Australia   467 (155.1 overs) & 5/168d (54.2 overs)

v

New Zealand 148 (54.5 overs) & 240 (71 overs)

Australia won by 247 runs Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne Points: Australia 40, New Zealand 0

3–7 January 2020 Scorecard

Australia   454 (150.1 overs) & 2/217d (52 overs)

v

New Zealand 256 (95.4 overs) & 136 (47.5 overs)

Australia won by 279 runs Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney Points: Australia 40, New Zealand 0

Basil D'Oliveira Trophy (South Africa v England)

Main article: English cricket team in South Africa in 2019–20

26–30 December 2019 Scorecard

South Africa   284 (84.3 overs) & 272 (61.4 overs)

v

England 181 (53.2 overs) & 268 (93 overs)

South Africa won by 107 runs Centurion Park, Centurion Points: South Africa 30, England 0

3–7 January 2020 Scorecard

England   269 (91.5 overs) & 391/8d (111 overs)

v

South Africa 223 (89 overs) & 248 (137.4 overs)

England won by 189 runs PPC Newlands, Cape Town Points: England 30, South Africa 0

16–20 January 2020 Scorecard

England   499/9d (152 overs)

v

South Africa 209 (86.4 overs) & 237 (88.5 overs)(f/o)

England won by an innings and 53 runs St George's Park Cricket Ground, Port Elizabeth Points: England 30, South Africa 0

24–28 January 2020 Scorecard

England   400 (98.2 overs) & 248 (61.3 overs)

v

South Africa 183 (68.3 overs) & 274 (77.1 overs)

England won by 191 runs Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg Points: England 30, South Africa −6^[19]

Pakistan v Bangladesh

Main article: Bangladeshi cricket team in Pakistan in 2019–20

The second match was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.^[22] Due to a busy schedule, the match would be postponed until the 2021–22 season and outside the Championship season.^[38]

7–11 February 2020 Scorecard

Bangladesh   233 (82.5 overs) & 168 (62.2 overs)

v

Pakistan 445 (122.5 overs)

Pakistan won by an innings and 44 runs Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi Points: Pakistan 60, Bangladesh 0

5–9 April 2020 Scorecard

Pakistan

v

Bangladesh

Cancelled National Stadium, Karachi

New Zealand v India

Main article: Indian cricket team in New Zealand in 2019–20

21–25 February 2020 Scorecard

India   165 (68.1 overs) & 191 (81 overs)

v

New Zealand 348 (100.2 overs) & 9/0 (1.4 overs)

New Zealand won by 10 wickets Basin Reserve, Wellington Points: New Zealand 60, India 0

29 February–4 March 2020 Scorecard

India   242 (63 overs) & 124 (46 overs)

v

New Zealand 235 (73.1 overs) & 132/3 (36 overs)

New Zealand won by 7 wickets Hagley Oval, Christchurch Points: New Zealand 60, India 0

2020

Further information: International cricket in 2020

Bangladesh v Australia

Main article: Australian cricket team in Bangladesh in 2020

This series did not happen due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

11–15 June 2020 Scorecard

Bangladesh

v

Australia

Cancelled Zohur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, Chattogram

19–23 June 2020 Scorecard

Bangladesh

v

Australia

Cancelled Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Dhaka

Wisden Trophy (England v West Indies)

Main article: West Indian cricket team in England in 2020

This series was originally scheduled for June 2020 but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.^[39]

8–12 July 2020 Scorecard

England   204 (67.3 overs) & 313 (111.2 overs)

v

West Indies 318 (102 overs) & 200/6 (64.2 overs)

West Indies won by 4 wickets Rose Bowl, Southampton Points: West Indies 40, England 0

16–20 July 2020 Scorecard

England   469/9d (162 overs) & 129/3d (19 overs)

v

West Indies 287 (99 overs) & 198 (70.1 overs)

England won by 113 runs Old Trafford, Manchester Points: England 40, West Indies 0

24–28 July 2020 Scorecard

England   369 (111.5 overs) & 226/2d (58 overs)

v

West Indies 197 (65 overs) & 129 (37.1 overs)

England won by 269 runs Old Trafford, Manchester Points: England 40, West Indies 0

England v Pakistan

Main article: Pakistani cricket team in England in 2020

5–9 August 2020 Scorecard

Pakistan   326 (109.3 overs) & 169 (46.4 overs)

v

England 219 (70.3 overs) & 277/7 (82.1 overs)

England won by 3 wickets Old Trafford, Manchester Points: England 40, Pakistan 0

13–17 August 2020 Scorecard

Pakistan   236 (91.2 overs)

v

England 110/4d (43.1 overs)

Match drawn Rose Bowl, Southampton Points: England 13, Pakistan 13

21–25 August 2020 [1]

England   583/8d (154.4 overs)

v

Pakistan 273 (93 overs) & 187/4 (83.1 overs) (f/o)

Match drawn Rose Bowl, Southampton Points: Pakistan 13, England 13

Bangladesh v New Zealand

Main article: New Zealand cricket team in Bangladesh in 2020

This series did not happen due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

August 2020

Bangladesh

v

New Zealand

Cancelled

August 2020

Bangladesh

v

New Zealand

Cancelled

2020–21

Further information: International cricket in 2020–21

New Zealand v West Indies

Main article: West Indian cricket team in New Zealand in 2020–21

3–7 December 2020 Scorecard

New Zealand   519/7d (145 overs)

v

West Indies 138 (64 overs) & 247 (58.5 overs) (f/o)

New Zealand won by an innings and 134 runs Seddon Park, Hamilton Points: New Zealand 60, West Indies 0

11–15 December 2020 Scorecard

New Zealand   460 (114 overs)

v

West Indies 131 (56.4 overs) & 317 (79.1 overs) (f/o)

New Zealand won by an innings and 12 runs Basin Reserve, Wellington Points: New Zealand 60, West Indies 0

Border–Gavaskar Trophy (Australia v India)

Main article: Indian cricket team in Australia in 2020–21

17–21 December 2020 (D/N) Scorecard

India   244 (93.1 overs) & 36 (21.2 overs)

v

Australia 191 (72.1 overs) & 2/93 (21 overs)

Australia won by 8 wickets Adelaide Oval, Adelaide Points: Australia 30, India 0

26–30 December 2020 Scorecard

Australia   195 (72.3 overs) & 200 (103.1 overs)

v

India 326 (115.1 overs) & 2/70 (15.5 overs)

India won by 8 wickets Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne Points: India 30, Australia −4^[32]

7–11 January 2021 Scorecard

Australia   338 (105.4 overs) & 6/312d (87 overs)

v

India 244 (100.4 overs) & 334/5 (131 overs)

Match drawn Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney Points: Australia 10, India 10

15–19 January 2021 Scorecard

Australia   369 (115.2 overs) & 294 (75.5 overs)

v

India 336 (111.4 overs) & 7/329 (97 overs)

India won by 3 wickets The Gabba, Brisbane Points: India 30, Australia 0

New Zealand v Pakistan

Main article: Pakistani cricket team in New Zealand in 2020–21

26–30 December 2020 Scorecard

New Zealand   431 (155 overs) & 180/5d (45.3 overs)

v

Pakistan 239 (102.2 overs) & 271 (123.3 overs)

New Zealand won by 101 runs Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui Points: New Zealand 60, Pakistan 0

3–7 January 2021 Scorecard

Pakistan   297 (83.5 overs) & 186 (81.4 overs)

v

New Zealand 659/6d (158.5 overs)

New Zealand won by an innings and 176 runs Hagley Oval, Christchurch Points: New Zealand 60, Pakistan 0

South Africa v Sri Lanka

Main article: Sri Lankan cricket team in South Africa in 2020–21

26–30 December 2020 Scorecard

Sri Lanka   396 (96 overs) & 180 (46.1 overs)

v

South Africa 621 (142.1 overs)

South Africa won by an innings and 45 runs Centurion Park, Centurion Points: South Africa 60, Sri Lanka 0

3–7 January 2021 Scorecard

Sri Lanka   157 (40.3 overs) & 211 (56.5 overs)

v

South Africa 302 (75.4 overs) & 67/0 (13.2 overs)

South Africa won by 10 wickets Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg Points: South Africa 60, Sri Lanka 0

Sri Lanka v England

Main article: English cricket team in Sri Lanka in 2020–21

This series was originally scheduled for March 2020 but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.^[40]

14–18 January 2021 Scorecard

Sri Lanka   135 (46.1 overs) & 359 (136.5 overs)

v

England 421 (117.1 overs) & 76/3 (24.2 overs)

England won by 7 wickets Galle International Stadium, Galle Points: England 60, Sri Lanka 0

22–26 January 2021 Scorecard

Sri Lanka   381 (139.3 overs) & 126 (35.5 overs)

v

England 344 (116.1 overs) & 164/4 (43.3 overs)

England won by 6 wickets Galle International Stadium, Galle Points: England 60, Sri Lanka 0

Pakistan v South Africa

Main article: South African cricket team in Pakistan in 2020–21

26–30 January 2021 Scorecard

South Africa   220 (69.2 overs) & 245 (100.3 overs)

v

Pakistan 378 (119.2 overs) & 90/3 (22.5 overs)

Pakistan won by 7 wickets National Stadium, Karachi Points: Pakistan 60, South Africa 0

4–8 February 2021 Scorecard

Pakistan   272 (114.3 overs) & 298 (102 overs)

v

South Africa 201 (65.4 overs) & 274 (91.4 overs)

Pakistan won by 95 runs Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi Points: Pakistan 60, South Africa 0

Bangladesh v West Indies

Main article: West Indian cricket team in Bangladesh in 2020–21

This was originally a three-match series scheduled for January 2021.

3–7 February 2021 Scorecard

Bangladesh   430 (150.2 overs) & 223/8d (67.5 overs)

v

West Indies 259 (96.1 overs) & 395/7 (127.3 overs)

West Indies won by 3 wickets Zohur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, Chattogram Points: West Indies 60, Bangladesh 0

11–15 February 2021 Scorecard

West Indies   409 (142.2 overs) & 117 (52.5 overs)

v

Bangladesh 296 (96.5 overs) & 213 (61.3 overs)

West Indies won by 17 runs Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Dhaka Points: West Indies 60, Bangladesh 0

Anthony de Mello Trophy (India v England)

Main article: English cricket team in India in 2020–21

This was originally a five-match series.^[41]

5–9 February 2021 Scorecard

England   578 (190.1 overs) & 178 (46.3 overs)

v

India 337 (95.5 overs) & 192 (58.1 overs)

England won by 227 runs M. A. Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai Points: England 30, India 0

13–17 February 2021 Scorecard

India   329 (95.5 overs) & 286 (85.5 overs)

v

England 134 (59.5 overs) & 164 (54.2 overs)

India won by 317 runs M. A. Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai Points: India 30, England 0

24–28 February 2021 (D/N) Scorecard

England   112 (48.4 overs) & 81 (30.4 overs)

v

India 145 (53.2 overs) & 49/0 (7.4 overs)

India won by 10 wickets Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad Points: India 30, England 0

4–8 March 2021 Scorecard

England   205 (75.5 overs) & 135 (54.5 overs)

v

India 365 (114.4 overs)

India won by an innings and 25 runs Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad Points: India 30, England 0

South Africa v Australia

Main article: Australian cricket team in South Africa in 2020–21

This series did not take place as originally scheduled due to the COVID-19 pandemic and could not be a part of the Championship season.^[42]

March 2021

South Africa

v

Australia

Cancelled

March 2021

South Africa

v

Australia

Cancelled

March 2021

South Africa

v

Australia

Cancelled

Sobers–Tissera Trophy (West Indies v Sri Lanka)

Main article: Sri Lankan cricket team in the West Indies in 2020–21

21–25 March 2021 Scorecard

Sri Lanka   169 (69.4 overs) & 476 (149.5 overs)

v

West Indies 271 (103 overs) & 236/4 (100 overs)

Match drawn Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Antigua Points: West Indies 20, Sri Lanka 20

29 March – 2 April 2021 Scorecard

West Indies   354 (111.1 overs) & 280/4d (72.4 overs)

v

Sri Lanka 258 (107 overs) & 193/2 (79 overs)

Match drawn Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Antigua Points: West Indies 20, Sri Lanka 20

Sri Lanka v Bangladesh

Main article: Bangladeshi cricket team in Sri Lanka in 2020–21

This series originally comprised three Test matches and was scheduled for July–August 2020, then postponed to October 2020, but was rescheduled again due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

21–25 April 2021 Scorecard

Bangladesh   541/7d (173 overs) & 100/2 (33 overs)

v

Sri Lanka 648/8d (179 overs)

Match drawn Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Kandy Points: Sri Lanka 20, Bangladesh 20

29 April–3 May 2021 Scorecard

Sri Lanka   493/7d (159.2 overs) & 194/9d (42.2 overs)

v

Bangladesh 251 (83 overs) & 227 (71 overs)

Sri Lanka won by 209 runs Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Kandy Points: Sri Lanka 60, Bangladesh 0

2021

Further information: International cricket in 2021

Sir Vivian Richards Trophy (West Indies v South Africa)

Main article: South African cricket team in the West Indies in 2021

This series was scheduled to be played in July 2020 but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

10–14 June 2021 Scorecard

West Indies   97 (40.5 Overs) & 162 (64 Overs)

v

South Africa 322 (96.5 Overs)

South Africa won by an innings and 63 runs Daren Sammy Cricket Ground, St Lucia Points: South Africa 60, West Indies 0

18–22 June 2021 Scorecard

South Africa   298 (112.4 overs) & 174 (53 overs)

v

West Indies 149 (54 overs) & 165 (58.3 overs)

South Africa won by 158 runs Daren Sammy Cricket Ground, St Lucia Points: South Africa 60, West Indies −6^[33]

Final

Main article: 2021 ICC World Test Championship Final

18–23 June 2021^[f] Scorecard

India   217 (92.1 overs) & 170 (73 overs)

v

New Zealand 249 (99.2 overs) & 140/2 (45.5 overs)

New Zealand won by 8 wickets Rose Bowl, Southampton

---

•  
  Panorama of the Rose Bowl, the venue for the final match

Final standings

Pos.	Team	Prize money (US$)
1	New Zealand	$1,600,000
2	India	$800,000
3	Australia	$450,000
4	England	$350,000
5	South Africa	$200,000
6	Pakistan	$100,000
7	Sri Lanka
8	West Indies
9	Bangladesh

Statistics

Individual statistics

The top 5 players in each category are listed.

Most runs

Runs	Batsman	Mat	Inns	NO	Ave	HS	100s	50s
1,675	Marnus Labuschagne	13	23	0	72.82	215	5	9
1,660	Joe Root	20	37	2	47.43	228	3	8
1,341	Steve Smith	13	22	1	63.85	211	4	7
1,334	Ben Stokes	17	32	3	46.00	176		6
1,159	Ajinkya Rahane	18	30	3	42.92	115	3	6
Last updated: 23 June 2021^[43]

Most wickets

Wkts	Bowler	Mat	Inns	Runs	Overs	BBI	BBM	Avg	5WI	10WM
71	Ravichandran Ashwin	14	26	1,444	549.4	7/145	9/207	20.33	4	0
70	Pat Cummins	14	28	1,472	555.3	5/28	7/69	21.02	1	0
69	Stuart Broad	17	32	1,386	499.3	6/31	10/67	20.08	2	1
56	Tim Southee	11	22	1,166	431.3	5/32	9/110	20.82	3	0
	Nathan Lyon	14	27	1,757	630.5	6/49	10/118	31.37	4	1
Last updated: 23 June 2021^[44]

Most dismissals for a wicket-keeper

Dismissals	Player	Mat	Inns	Catches	Stumping	BBI	Dis/Inn
65	Tim Paine	14	28	63	2	5	2.321
50	Quinton de Kock	13	22	48	2	6	2.272
	Jos Buttler	18	25	49	1	4	2.000
48	BJ Watling	11	22	47	1	5	2.181
41	Rishabh Pant	12	24	35	6	4	1.708
Last updated: 11 June 2023^[45]

Most catches for a player

Dismissals	Player	Mat	Inns	Catches	Dis/Inn
34	Joe Root	20	38	3	0.894
27	Steve Smith	13	26	4	1.038
25	Ben Stokes	17	33	5	0.757
23	Ajinkya Rahane	18	36	3	0.638
21	Ross Taylor	12	24	3	0.875
Last updated: 11 June 2023^[46]

Highest individual score

Runs	Batsman	Balls	4s	6s	Opposition	Venue	Match date
335*	David Warner	418	39	1	Pakistan	Adelaide Oval, Adelaide	29 November 2019
267	Zak Crawley	393	34			The Rose Bowl, Southampton	21 August 2020
254*	Virat Kohli	336	33	2	South Africa	Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune	10 October 2019
251	Kane Williamson	412	34		West Indies	Seddon Park, Hamilton	3 December 2020
244	Dimuth Karunaratne	437	26	0	Bangladesh	Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Pallekele	21 April 2021
Last updated: 23 June 2021^[47]

Best bowling figures in an innings

Figure	Bowler	Overs	Mdns	Econ	Opposition	Venue	Match date
7/137	Lasith Embuldeniya	42.0	6	3.26	England	Galle International Stadium, Galle	22 January 2021
7/145	Ravichandran Ashwin	46.2	11	3.12	South Africa	ACA–VDCA Cricket Stadium, Visakhapatnam	2 October 2019
6/27	Jasprit Bumrah	12.1	3	2.21	West Indies	Sabina Park, Kingston	30 August 2019
6/31	Stuart Broad	14.0	4	2.21		Old Trafford, Manchester	24 July 2020
6/38	Axar Patel	21.4	6	1.75	England	Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad	24 February 2021
Last updated: 23 June 2021^[48]

Best bowling figures in a match

Figure	Bowler	Overs	Mdns	Opposition	Venue	Match date
11/70	Axar Patel	36.4	9	England	Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad	25 February 2021
11/117	Kyle Jamieson	41	14	Pakistan	Hagley Oval, Christchurch	3 January 2021
11/178	Praveen Jayawickrama	64	17	Bangladesh	Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Kandy	29 April 2021
10/67	Stuart Broad	22.1	5	West Indies	Old Trafford, Manchester	24 July 2020
10/114	Hasan Ali	31.4	4	South Africa	Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi	4 February 2021
Last updated: 23 June 2021^[49]

Best batting averages

Average	Batsman	Matches	Innings	Runs	HS	100s	50s
72.82	Marnus Labuschagne	13	23	1,675	215	5	9
66.57	Babar Azam	10	17	932	143	4	5
63.85	Steve Smith	13	22	1,341	211		6
61.20	Kane Williamson	10	16	918	251	3	2
60.77	Rohit Sharma	12	19	1,094	212	4
Qualification: Minimum 10 innings Last updated: 23 June 2021^[50]

Best bowling averages

Average	Bowler	Matches	Wkts	Runs	Balls	BBI	BBM
10.59	Axar Patel	3	27	286	766	6/38	11/70
12.53	Kyle Jamieson	7	43	539	1,478	6/48	11/117
17.79	Ishant Sharma	12	39	694	1,496	5/22	9/78
18.55	Umesh Yadav	7	27	538	962	5/53	8/82
19.51	James Anderson	12	39	761	1,991	6/40	7/63
Qualification: Minimum 500 deliveries bowled Last updated: 23 June 2021^[51]

Team statistics

Highest team totals

Score	Team	Overs	RR	Inns	Opposition	Venue	Date
659/6d	New Zealand	158.5	4.14	2	Pakistan	Hagley Oval, Christchurch	3 January 2021
648/8d	Sri Lanka	179	3.62	2	Bangladesh	Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Pallekele	21 April 2021
621	South Africa	142.1	4.36	2	Sri Lanka	SuperSport Park, Centurion	26 December 2020
601/5d	India	156.3	3.84	1	South Africa	Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune	10 October 2019
589/3d	Australia	127.0	4.63	1	Pakistan	Adelaide Oval, Adelaide	29 November 2019
(d=declared) Last updated: 23 June 2021^[52]

Lowest team totals

Score	Team	Overs	RR	Inns	Opposition	Venue	Date
36	India	21.2	1.68	3	Australia	Adelaide Oval, Adelaide	19 December 2020
67	England	27.5	2.40	2		Headingley Cricket Ground, Headingley	22 August 2019
81		30.4	2.64	3	India	Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad	25 February 2021
97	West Indies	40.5	2.37	1	South Africa	Daren Sammy Cricket Ground, Gros Islet	10 June 2021
100		26.5	3.72	4	India	Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, North Sound	22 August 2019
Last updated: 23 June 2021^[53]

Highest successful run-chases

Score	Team	Target	Overs	RR	Opposition	Venue	Date
395/7	West Indies	395	127.3	3.10	Bangladesh	Zohur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, Chattogram	7 February 2021
362/9	England	359	125.4	2.88	Australia	Headingley Cricket Ground, Headingley	25 August 2019
329/7	India	328	97.0	3.39		The Gabba, Brisbane	19 January 2021
277/7	England	277	82.1	3.37	Pakistan	Old Trafford, Manchester	8 August 2020
268/4	Sri Lanka	268	86.1	3.11	New Zealand	Galle International Stadium, Galle	18 August 2019
Last updated: 23 June 2021^[54]

See also

• Test cricket
• ICC Test Championship
• ICC Men's Test Team Rankings
• 2020–23 ICC Cricket World Cup Super League
• 2021–2023 ICC World Test Championship

Notes

1. Ireland, Afghanistan and Zimbabwe, like the nine Championship participants, were not able to add further fixtures outside the FTP, including Test matches.
2. Netherlands were also included on the FTP as a one-day and T20-playing nation only.
3. Australia were deducted 4 points for a slow over rate in the second Test against India on 29 December 2020.^[32]
4. South Africa were deducted 6 points for a slow over rate in the fourth Test against England on 27 January 2020.^[19]
5. West Indies were deducted 6 points for a slow over rate in the second Test against South Africa on 22 June 2021.^[33]
6. The final was initially scheduled for five days from 18–22 June, but weather delays meant that the scheduled reserve day was used.

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April 10, 2024