ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 Cycle: Preview Part 1 (The Wooden Spooners)

ICC World Test Championship

In this article, we will be previewing the Nine Teams part of the next ICC World Test Championship Cycle starting next month. The Nine teams that has been part of the competition since it's inception include Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, West Indies. The other Test playing nations not part of this cycle are Afghanistan, Ireland and Zimbabwe.

Bangladesh

Where they finished

Cycle 1: 9th Place (P7 L6 D1)
Cycle 2: 9th Place (P12 W1 L10 D1)
Cycle 3: 7th Place (P12 W4 L8)

There is no secret about Bangladesh being the weakest team of the WTC so far. They finished last in the first two cycles but showed improvement in the last one by finishing above both West Indies and Pakistan. Bangladesh was the last team to win a test series in the WTC when they completed a remarkable come from behind series win in Pakistan against the hosts. In fact, they haven't been able to win a home series so far. 

This does not mean there haven't been good performances. In the early 2022, they recorded a historic away win against New Zealand (their first in the SENA countries) on back of splendid work from their pacers especially Ebadot Hossain. Cometh the third cycle, they won a home test against NZ, followed it up with the aforementioned away series win against Pakistan and completed the cycle with another away win against West Indies in Kingston.

Bangladesh has the worst bowling average overall in WTC and the second worst batting average which is reflected in the results so far. The biggest problem has been the under performances of opening partnership with an average of 22.61. None of their openers average more than 25 except for the now retired Tamim Iqbal with only 2 centuries. The bowling has been on the rise with their young pacers putting hands up in their recent recent Test ball success.

Best performers

Highest Run scorer: Litton Das (1835 runs 37.44 Ave 4 centuries 141 HS)
Highest wicket taker: Taijul Islam (95 wickets 34.43 Ave 7 5-fers 7/116 Best)

Players to watch out for

With the 38-year old Mushfiqur Rahim nearing retirement, the mantle has now been transferred to the next gen. The core of the side revolves around captain Najmul Hossain Shanto, star allrounder Mehidy Hasan Miraz, wicketkeeper Litton Das and the experienced Mominul Haque.

This is the best fast-bowling bunch Bangladesh has ever produced. They have seam bowlers like Taskin Ahmed and Hasan Mahmud, the speedster Nahid Rana, left armer Shoriful Islam and the accurate Khaled Ahmed.

Spin bowling will be led by the star all-rounder Mehidy Hasan coming off a Player of the series performance in the recent two Test series against Zimbabwe and the left arm orthodox Taijul Islam.

There are young and promising batters like Jaker Ali, Mahidul Islam Ankon and the domestic performer Amite Hasan. Their woes revolve around the poor starts given by their top order especially their openers lately owned by Shadman Islam, Mahmudul Hasan Joy and Zakir Hasan. If their openers can provide them consistent strong starts, this side can be a major threat in the upcoming matches.

Journey for next cycle

All the Bangladesh series will be two-match affairs as has been the norm so far. They have started the preparations with a disappointing 1-1 result at home against Zimbabwe. The next WTC cycle begins with Bangladesh travelling to Sri Lanka. They will then host Pakistan in early 2026. The most anticipated series for them will be their tour to Australia in Aug 2026 where they will be travelling for the first time in 23 years (so much for the inclusion of all teams, ICC?). Following that will be a home tussle with West Indies. They will travel to South Africa next and complete the cycle by hosting England in early 2027 also squaring off the first time in WTC.

West Indies

Where they finished

Cycle 1: 8th Place (P13 W3 L8 D2)
Cycle 2: 8th Place (P13 W4 L7 D2)
Cycle 3: 8th Place (P13 W3 L8 D2)

West Indies have consistently been the second from bottom teams across last three instances of the WTC. Once considered to be the giants of Test cricket, these performances have not been surprising to be honest. We have seen glimpses of talent in the past few years but that has not translated into success which is why West Indies is always languishing at the end.

Regular chopping and changing, key players not available in the red ball format and board politics are other factors contributing to their downfall. CWI has now introduced a new data-driven scouting system aimed at identifying and developing the best cricketing talent across the region for both their men and women team selections. This is what CWI director Miles Bascombe had to say about this new system in place:

"We are moving beyond just relying on what we see on scorecards. This system ensures that performances are seen with context and with a focus on the skill sets displayed, tactical acumen and game awareness. We are collecting real-time data, analyzing performances consistently, and making informed decisions about player development."

West Indies did enjoy a few exceptional wins like a historic chase of 395 against Bangladesh in Chattogram, a four-wicket win against England at Southampton in the first series after COVID and the famous Shamar Joseph fairytale at Brisbane last year. The problems though just like Bangladesh, lie in their fragile batting. They average the worst among all teams at 22.61 and dropping down to 19.71 in the last cycle. West Indies have used 30 different batters in the 39 matches they have played so far which reflects in their poor batting numbers. Only 12 centuries have been scored by 7 different players with only four them part of the recent playing XIs.

Best performers

Highest Run scorer: Kraig Braithwaite (2253 runs 30.04 Ave 3 centuries 160 HS)
Highest wicket taker: Kemar Roach (99 wickets 26.66 Ave 2 5-fers 5/44 Best)

Players to watch out for

West Indies' newly announced captain Roston Chase hasn't played for them in this format since 2023. 36-year old Kemar Roach is also nearing the end of his playing career. Kraigg Braithwaite remains a vital cog at the top however the search for his opening partner remains elusive. They will be hoping for more from their middle and lower order talents like Kavem Hodge, Alick Athanaze and Joshua Da Silva. 

Even with a looming exit of Roach, the fast-bowling remains solid with the impressive Jayden Seales and Shamar Joseph being partnered by Alzarri. They have a capable seam bowling all-round option in Justin Greaves who just scored his maiden Test ton last November, if they want to move on from Jason Holder. 

Jomel Warrican and Gudakesh Motie continue to handle the spin bowling department although they will still be in search of a good right-arm off spinner or wrist spinners to bring some variety but the options are limited.

Batting is their main concern. West Indies can look to explore top order options like Kevlon Anderson, Mikyle Louis, Kevin Wickham and middle/lower order prodigies such as Amir Jangoo, Trevor Imlach while continuing to build youngsters Shaqkere Parris, Jewel Andrew using their Emerging and A tours.

Journey for next cycle

West Indies are scheduled to play a total of 14 tests. They start by welcoming Australia with a three-match series this June and then travel to India for two matches in October. Continuing on from there to New Zealand for a three-match affair at the end of 2025. They will host Sri Lanka and Pakistan in mid 2026 and complete the tournament by travelling to Bangladesh in October 2026, all series consisting of two matches.

Pakistan

Where they finished

Cycle 1: 6th Place (P12 W4 L5 D3)
Cycle 2: 7th Place (P14 W4 L6 D4)
Cycle 3: 9th Place (P14 W5 L9)

Pakistan has been plagued by their inability to design the home turfs which will suit their style of play. The home pitches in the first Cycle were almost perfect aiding their bowlers but they did not win a single away game thus ending up at 6th. The second cycle (their best chance to finish in top two so far) had placid wickets, an embarrassment as they did not win a single home game. They lost another home series to Bangladesh in the latest cycle and suddenly decided to employ rank tuners but still lost a test to West Indies, a side considered to fare poorly on spinning tracks. They finished last this time thus hitting rock bottom.

Doubts start right at the top with the current captain Shan Masood fighting for his spot after a poor run in the last cycle although he hit a stylish 145 in the last match against South Africa. After a lean run of 19 innings without a 50+ score, Babar Azam has hit three consecutive half centuries but remains without a ton since December 2022. 

The politics has been part of Pakistan cricket for ages now but never has it affected the team like today. There has been 7 coach changes in the last two years and the current position of red ball Test coach is under scrutiny. They have the second worst bowling average at home in WTC even after the recent low scoring matches on spinning minefields of Multan and Rawalpindi. 

Best performers

Highest Run scorer: Babar Azam (2998 runs 48.35 Ave 8 centuries 196 HS)
Highest wicket taker: Shaheen Afridi (94 wickets 28.65 Ave 3 5-fers 6/51 Best)

Players to watch out for

Pakistan maybe on the lookout for a new captain with sweeping changes expected. Saim Ayub will be given a longer run after a strong start to this format. The middle looks packed with Babar and Rizwan the driving force with Saud Shakeel (the lone star in the last WTC), Kamran Ghulam and spin bowling all-rounder Salman Ali Agha playing around them.

Pakistan are unsure about the make up of their fast bowling with only Khurram Shehzad assured of a starting spot and Mohammed Abbas being touted as primarily an overseas option. Their highest WTC wicket-taker Shaheen Shah Afridi and the effective Naseem Shah were recently dropped (rested?). This season the domestic pitches largely favored the pacers with Muhammad Musa taking 38 wickets at a ground breaking average of 9.81. Ahmed Bashir also did well with 31 wickets at 12.77. But given their recent home success on spinning tracks we'll have to see what new approach PCB takes for their home games

Sajid Ali and the 38-year old Noman Ali will continue to carry on the spin bowling mantle with the mystery spinner Abrar Ahmed in the reserves. There aren't any other developing spinners coming through the ranks as of now.

In case they decide to look away from Shan, Sahibzada Farhan is a solid opening option although they are expected to go back to the tried and tested options Abdullah Shafique or Imam-ul-Haq. The middle and lower order looks settled. Pakistan needs to get their focus back on cricket, fitness and give a consistent run by identifying their best fit fast bowlers if they want to challenge the teams this time.

Journey for next cycle

Pakistan will play England thrice and all other opponents twice in the upcoming WTC. They start by hosting South Africa in Oct 2025, then travel to Bangladesh in early and West Indies in mid 2026. Then they travel to England in August after which they will host Sri Lanka and finish the cycle by hosting New Zealand in early 2027.

References : ESPNCricinfo, Statsguru by ESPNCricinfo, Wikipedia
By Shekhar Tomar

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