Dubai, Jun 25: The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Friday congratulated New Zealand on clinching the inaugural World Test Championship title by beating India in a riveting final in Southampton.
It is the first major ICC trophy for the Black Caps, who had ended as runners-up in back-to-back ODI World Cup final in 2015 and 2019.
An incredibly tight game saw New Zealand bowl out India for 170 in the second innings, leaving them 139 to chase for victory at the Hampshire Bowl on Wednesday.
‘I would like to congratulate the first ever World Test Champions, the Black Caps who displayed the skill and temperament required to be the best Test team in the world,’ said Geoff Allardice, ICC Acting CEO.
“I would also like to congratulate the Indian team, who performed so consistently to qualify for the Final and came so close to winning it,’ he added.
Allardice said both teams showed their quality and it was an outstanding game of Test cricket.
‘Both teams showed their quality and it was a simply outstanding game of Test cricket that will live long in the memories of cricket fans around the world, also played in a great spirit that highlighted the mutual respect between the teams,’ he said.
After a complete wash-out on the first and fourth days respectively, the final stretched to the reserved day where New Zealand ultimately beat India by 8 wickets to lift the Test Mace.
“Throughout the two year World Test Championship both Kane and Virat made no secret of their desire to win the Test Mace and that was clearly evident over the last six days. The quality of play was befitting of two best Test teams in the world and it was an enthralling game,”Allardice said.
The final was a culmination of two-and-a-half years of men’s Test cricket, after the WTC was introduced in 2019 to give greater context to the longest format.
“The conclusion of the first edition of the World Test Championship is a special moment for our sport as this is an event that has been so long in the making.
But the last two years have clearly demonstrated the importance of context in Test cricket and I’m already looking forward to the second edition starting with England v India in a little over a month,’ Allardice said.
