The 2021-23 season ended at the Oval in London when Australia defeated India by 209 runs in the final of the competition. The two teams qualified for that match after finishing in the top two places of the standings at the end of the three-year cycle.
Here is a look back at the second World Test Championship in history, and at the teams and players who shone during the five-day format of the sport.
Australia’s Bowling Attack Proved to Be Too Hot to Handle
As you will have seen on the news, it was Australia’s bowling attack, as it had done through the last three years, that made the difference in the World Test Championship Final. Scott Boland, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Cameron Green, and Nathan Lyon all took wickets. They also shared the load of overs across the five days at the Oval.
The Australian bowlers have shown they can have success, not just in familiar conditions at home, but also pitched around the world. No other country in Test cricket has the depth they have to their bowling, which is one factor behind their run of positive results.
The overs the Australian bowling attack was able to get in the World Test Championship final was perfect preparation for the Ashes this summer. As of June 17, they are -133 in the cricket betting to win the series against their oldest rivals.
Joe Root Dominates Runs Charts
It has been an excellent three years for former England captain Joe Root with the bat. He scored more than any other player in the 2021/23 World Test Championship with 1,915 runs. The Englishman made eight centuries and six half-centuries, averaging an impressive 53.19.
Since stepping down as the captain of the Test team, many opinion articles have been written about how Root is enjoying the luxury of concentrating on his batting. He has flourished in the new style of play that captain Ben Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum have encouraged their side to play.
Three other players scored over 1,500 runs during the last cycle of the Test tournament, with Australian pair Usman Khawaja (1,621 runs) and Marnus Labuschagne (1,576) finishing second and third respectively in the standings, while Pakistan captain Babar Azam was fourth with 1,527 runs.
Lyon Tops Wickets Charts
Australian off-spinner Lyon had the most success with the ball during the last cycle of the World Test Championship. He picked up 88 wickets from his 20 matches. His best figures were 8/64 which came against India in Indore.
Nathan Lyon + Adelaide Oval. A true love story 🥰 #AUSvWI pic.twitter.com/g4Uic88UXi
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 9, 2022
Lyon is closing in on 500 Test wickets. He has consistently been one of the best Test bowlers for the last decade in the sport, particularly at the Adeliade Oval. If the 35-year-old continues taking wickets at his current rate, he will continue to be Australia’s leading spinner.
Double Centuries for Kiwi Pair
The two highest individual scores during the second World Test Championship in history came from New Zealand players. Tom Latham hit 252 runs from 373 balls against Bangladesh in Christchurch in 2022, while earlier this year, Kiwi captain Kane Williamson also scored a double century, with 215 runs against Sri Lanka in Wellington.
There were eight double centuries in total during the competition. Dinesh Chandimal hit an unbeaten 206 against Australia in Galle, Williamson scored 200 not out against Pakistan in Karachi, while Henry Nicholls got to the 200 mark without losing his wicket in a game against Sri Lanka in Wellington. Steve Smith and Labuschagne both scored double tons in the same match against the West Indies in Perth, while Australian opener David Warner reached the landmark against South Africa in Melbourne.
Ajaz Patel Adds His Name to History
Review of 2021-23 World Test Championship
New Zealand spinner Ajaz Patel became just the third bowler in the sport to take all ten wickets in a Test innings when he finished with figures of 10-119 against India in Mumbai in 2021. Despite his efforts, the Kiwis were on the wrong side of the result, losing to the hosts in the match.
Australian pacer Boland was the most economical bowler in the World Test Championship. He averaged just 14.57 from his eight matches. He took 33 wickets, with his best figures being 6/7 against England in the Ashes.
The new cycle in the 2023/25 World Test Championship has begun already with the 2023 Ashes. The final will take place in the summer of 2025 at Lord’s, England.
