The debate over the fairness of South Africa’s journey to the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25 title continues, even days after they were crowned champions on June 14. Critics have pointed out that the Proteas may have had a comparatively easier path to the final than Australia, the other finalist.
Joining the conversation is South African cricket legend AB de Villiers, who believes the current WTC format needs adjustments to ensure fairness for all Test-playing nations.
AB de Villiers Recommends Four-Year Cycle for WTC
Speaking on the BBC Stumped podcast, de Villiers said, “To a certain extent, something needs to be done,” referring to the WTC’s current scheduling format. He acknowledged that the upcoming WTC cycle shows signs of improvement but emphasized that more work is needed to make the system fair and balanced.
De Villiers proposed extending the WTC to a four-year cycle, allowing every team to face each other at least once. “You want to get to that final feeling like you’ve played against all these nations. Maybe a four-year cycle would be nice,” he said. “We’ve done that in the past with one-day internationals, so why not in Test cricket? It would make sense, and it would give the organisers just so much more time to get a really fair, well-balanced system out there.”
Long Gaps Between Test Matches a Concern
Despite their recent WTC triumph, South Africa’s next scheduled Test match is not until October 2026, leaving a gap of over 18 months. De Villiers acknowledged the lengthy break but remains optimistic that fans will turn out in large numbers when the team returns to the field.
“The hunger to see the champions play at home will pull in massive crowds to the stadiums,” he said, adding that this win should be the start of a new era of belief in South African cricket. “We’ve had some very disappointing and sad ends to a lot of campaigns, especially the World Cups, but now it’s time to start believing that we can do this more often.”
As one of the game’s most respected voices, de Villiers’ suggestions add weight to the growing call for a more equitable WTC format—one that ensures no team has an unfair advantage and every nation gets a fair shot at Test cricket’s most prestigious prize.
