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The new cycle of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2025–2027 officially kicked off on Tuesday, with Sri Lanka taking on Bangladesh in the opening Test of the cycle at Galle. As the race to the next WTC final begins, each of the nine Test-playing nations will play six series — three at home and three away — as they look to book their place in the final scheduled for 2027.
Pakistan are set to host South Africa (2 Tests), Sri Lanka (2), and New Zealand (2). Their away fixtures include two-Test tours of Bangladesh, West Indies, and a three-Test tour of England.
Australia will host three series — a five-match Ashes against England, two Tests against Bangladesh, and four against New Zealand. Their away tours include three Tests in the West Indies, three in South Africa, and a five-Test series in India.
Bangladesh will play their home series against Pakistan (2 Tests), West Indies (2), and England (2). Away from home, they are scheduled to tour Sri Lanka (2), Australia (2), and South Africa (2).
England will play three series at home — five Tests against India, three against New Zealand, and three against Pakistan. Their overseas challenges include five Tests in Australia, three in South Africa, and two in Bangladesh.
India will host the West Indies (2 Tests), South Africa (2), and Australia (5). Their away assignments include five Tests in England, two in Sri Lanka, and two in New Zealand.
New Zealand will welcome the West Indies (3 Tests), India (2), and Sri Lanka (2) to their shores. They will play away series against England (3), Australia (4), and Pakistan (2).
South Africa will host Australia (3 Tests), Bangladesh (2), and England (3). Their away games feature trips to Pakistan (2), India (2), and Sri Lanka (2).
Sri Lanka will host Bangladesh (2), India (2), and South Africa (2). On the road, they will tour West Indies (2), Pakistan (2), and New Zealand (2).
West Indies are scheduled to host Australia (3), Sri Lanka (2), and Pakistan (2). Their away calendar includes tours to India (2), New Zealand (3), and Bangladesh (2).
This cycle of the World Test Championship promises exciting matchups, historic rivalries, and key battles as teams strive for consistency and excellence in red-ball cricket. Every match will carry weight, with valuable WTC points on the line, as only the top two teams will qualify for the WTC Final in 2027.
South Africa’s WTC 2025 triumph came on Saturday, when they chased down a 282-run target against Australia in the final at Lord’s. Captain Temba Bavuma and opener Aiden Markram led the charge with composed innings, supported by strong contributions from the bowlers. It marked the Proteas’ first ICC tournament victory since the 1998 Champions Trophy, then known as the Wills International Cup.
Australia, who had secured a 74-run first-innings lead, crumbled in their second innings. Despite some resistance from Mitchell Starc and Alex Carey, they couldn’t stop South Africa from scripting history.
Here’s a look at each team’s fixtures for the 2025–27 WTC cycle:
Australia
Home: ENG (5), BAN (2), NZ (4)
Away: WI (3), SA (3), IND (5)
Bangladesh
Home: PAK (2), WI (2), ENG (2)
Away: SL (2), AUS (2), SA (2)
England
Home: IND (5), NZ (3), PAK (3)
Away: AUS (5), SA (3), BAN (2)
India
Home: WI (2), SA (2), AUS (5)
Away: ENG (5), SL (2), NZ (2)
New Zealand
Home: WI (3), IND (2), SL (2)
Away: ENG (3), AUS (4), PAK (2)
Pakistan
Home: SA (2), SL (2), NZ (2)
Away: BAN (2), WI (2), ENG (3)
South Africa
Home: AUS (3), BAN (2), ENG (3)
Away: PAK (2), IND (2), SL (2)
Sri Lanka
Home: BAN (2), IND (2), SA (2)
Away: WI (2), PAK (2), NZ (2)
West Indies
Home: AUS (3), SL (2), PAK (2)
Away: IND (2), NZ (3), BAN (2)
