ICC announce its Future Tours Programme for 2019-2023

The nine leading Test-playing nations will each play three home and three away series over a two-year cycle in a league format with the top two teams competing in a final in the spring of 2021

The ICC announced its Future Tours Programme for 2019-2023 on Wednesday, incorporating the schedule for the long awaited inaugural World Test Championship

The nine leading Test-playing nations will each play three home and three away series over a two-year cycle in a league format with the top two teams competing in a final in the spring of 2021 – Lord's being the most likely – for the right to be crowned World Test Champions.

It has been the ongoing aim of the game's world governing body to bring greater context and importance to bi-lateral international cricket at a time when interest in its oldest, longest and purest has been seemingly on the wane for some time. 

ICC Chief Executive David Richardson hailed the announcement as a singularly significant milestone for Test cricket. “The agreement of this FTP means we have clarity, certainty, and most important context around bilateral cricket over the next five years.”

Alongside the announcement of the Test Championship schedule, the FTP also encompasses the creation of a 13-team ODI league that will used as a pathway for the 50-over World Cup. The Netherlands will be the 13th participant alongside the 12 Test playing nations.   

“Bringing context to bilateral cricket is not a new challenge, but with the release of this FTP, our Members have found a genuine solution that gives fans around the world the chance to engage regularly with international cricket that has meaning and the possibility of a global title at the end,” Richardson continued.

^{West Indies are one of five teams that will not play a series any longer than three Tests}

Leading figures in the Members respective boards with similarly positive for the impact this will have on the game's long-term prosperity.

ECB Chief Executive Tom Harrison said “We welcome the creation of the World Test Championship. It is a big step in the right direction and will help ensure Test cricket is more sustainable and competitive and help secure its unique place as the pinnacle of our international game. 

Harrison's equivalent at New Zealand cricket, David White meanwhile saw it as a positive move for the importance and attractiveness of the Test cricket that gets played. “By bringing more relevance and context into international cricket we can farewell what used to be known as neutral games.” Chief Exec of Cricket South Africa Thabang Moroe was also buoyant declaring it “a win-win situation for all.”

There remain a number of wrinkles to be ironed out. Fans will want to know for one how the league system will allow for the difference in number of Tests that the teams play amidst their six series.

This difference gives considering weighting towards the stronger, and crucially wealthier, countries, who will continue to play the lion's share of Test cricket in the Championship schedule. England are set to play 22 Tests, while Australia will play 19, India 18 and South Africa 16.

Among the lower ranked teams, the Windies will play 15, Bangladesh and New Zealand 14, and Pakistan and Sri Lanka 13. None of these five teams will play a series any longer than three Tests.

The three lowest-ranked Test playing teams – Zimbabwe and new boys Afghanistan and Ireland – meanwhile will be playing 10, eight and six Tests each respectively which will be among those not to count to the Test Championship standings.