ICC Announces Record Prize Pool for World Test Championship Final

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has revealed a record-setting prize pool of USD $5.76 million for the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2023–25 Final, scheduled to be held at Lord’s in under a month. This sum surpasses by more than double the rewards offered in the two prior editions of the championship.

The victors of the Ultimate Test are slated to receive USD $3.6 million, a considerable surge from the USD $1.6 million presented in both 2021 and 2023. The runners-up will be awarded USD $2.16 million, an increase from USD $800,000.

To commemorate the 30-day countdown to the final match, the ICC launched a promotional video showcasing prominent players from both competing teams. South Africa’s captain Temba Bavuma, alongside fast bowler Kagiso Rabada, and top-order batsman Aiden Markram, were featured with Australia’s Steve Smith and Travis Head.

The promotional piece also featured cricket legends, including Shaun Pollock, Dale Steyn, Matthew Hayden, Mel Jones, Nasser Hussain, Shoaib Akhtar, and Ravi Shastri.

South Africa secured their place in the final match by leading the WTC 2023–25 standings. Their journey to the final was fueled by series triumphs against Pakistan, West Indies, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka, in conjunction with a drawn home series against India.

Australia locked in their position following a 3-1 victory against India in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Their journey also encompassed a 3-0 sweep of Pakistan on their home turf, and series victories achieved away against New Zealand and Sri Lanka.

Reflecting on the conclusion of the ICC World Test Championship cycle and the excitement surrounding the forthcoming final, ICC Chairman Jay Shah remarked:

“We have observed a captivating third cycle of the ICC World Test Championship, where the finalists remained undecided until the competition’s end. The championship has spotlighted remarkable performances from players across various teams, culminating in a final between two exceptional squads – truly celebrating cricket.

“I am confident that spectators at Lord’s, together with fans tuning in globally, will witness exceptional cricket in this esteemed format when Australia and South Africa compete in less than a month. On behalf of the ICC, I offer my best wishes to all players as they prepare for this distinguished match.”

Notably, South Africa is pursuing their first-ever ICC trophy, while Australia aims to become the first team to secure the World Test Championship title twice.