The title match of the World Test Championship is being played between South Africa and Australia at Lord's. On the third day of the match, players from both teams wore black armbands and observed a one-minute silence before play began. They did this to pay tribute to those who lost their lives in the Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad. Air India's Boeing 787-8 flight crashed just seconds after takeoff on Thursday. A total of 241 people, including 12 crew members, died in the accident.

Along with the players, field umpires Chris Gaffney and Richard Illingworth also wore black armbands as a mark of respect.

There were 169 Indian citizens, 53 British citizens, 7 Portuguese citizens, and 1 Canadian citizen on board the Air India flight. The flight was going from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad to London Gatwick. Sadly, the plane crashed just after takeoff, and 241 people, including 12 crew members, lost their lives in the accident.

Also Read -Aakash Chopra suggests two-tier system for Test cricket during WTC final 2025

Only one person, Vishwas Kumar Ramesh, survived this terrible crash. He was sitting on seat 11-A, which was in the part of the plane that remained on the ground floor of the building after the collision. Vishwas, a British citizen of Indian origin, managed to escape by unbuckling his seatbelt. He said his left hand was burned when the fire started.

Australian and South African players wearing black armbands and observed a moment of silence for Ahmedabad plane victims. pic.twitter.com/DEelygZsr8

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) June 13, 2025

Before the start of the third day of the WTC Final 2025 between South Africa and Australia at Lord’s, players from both teams wore black armbands and observed a one-minute silence to pay tribute to the victims of the crash. The umpires, Chris Gaffney and Richard Illingworth, also wore black bands as a mark of respect.

Commentator Nasser Hussain spoke about the gesture during the live broadcast. He said, “It is clearly visible that the players are wearing black bands. While we are enjoying the match here in the sunshine of England, our thoughts are with the people affected by the tragic incident in India. We request everyone to observe a moment of silence to show respect.”

 

 

 

 

 

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Talking about the match, Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon came out to open Australia’s second innings on Day 3 of the match, while Kagiso Rabada began the bowling for South Africa. Australia is trying to defend the WTC title it won in 2023 by beating India. South Africa, on the other hand, is aiming to win its first ICC trophy since 1998, when it defeated the West Indies in the Champions Trophy final. A win at Lord’s would end their 27-year wait for another ICC title.

Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra has floated a suggestion for a two-tier system in Test cricket while the 2025 World Test Championship (WTC) final is on. Highlighting the lack of competitiveness among some teams, Chopra pointed out that certain nations have failed to come anywhere near securing a spot in the WTC final across the last three cycles. His proposal arrives as Australia plays South Africa in the last WTC final of 2025 at Lord's, with the defending champions having a 218-run advantage and just two second-innings wickets in hand going into the third day of Friday, June 13.

Talking in a video on his YouTube channel, 'Aakash Chopra,' the former opener queried the existing structure of Test cricket, contending that a tiered system could better balance out the competition. He pointed out that certain teams have consistently been below the top three rankings across the six years of WTC cycles, and there is a question over their position in the elite group. Chopra is making this comment because he noticed that the WTC was brought in to provide context to Test matches, but the absence of real contest between all teams prevents this aim from being realized.

Chopra explained his fears, saying, "Should Test cricket be divided into tiers? WTC was introduced since the ICC started realizing that Test cricket no longer has as much thrill. So they said they would put a little context in every match. The story is that the context has come, but where will you get the contest from?" He further added, "In my opinion, there is no contest because it's been six years since the start of WTC cycles; the last match of the third cycle is being played, but some teams have never come even close to the top three. Do they actually deserve to be in the top tier? Why is everyone in the same tier?"

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Chopra's Call for Reform

Chopra's suggestion of a two-tier Test cricket system will make the game more competitive by aligning teams according to their performance in WTC cycles. Dividing stronger teams from weaker ones struggling to compete, he feels the format would bring back the excitement and make the contests more meaningful, settling the imbalance that has haunted the championship.

Watch the video here:

South Africa has announced a strong 15-member team for the World Test Championship (WTC) final 2025 against reigning champions Australia, which will be hosted at Lord's Cricket Ground from June 11 to 15, 2025. Led by captain Temba Bavuma, the Proteas are ready to make history in their inaugural WTC final appearance after securing their berth with a percentage of 55.56 in the 2023-25 cycle, featuring a 2-0 series victory over Sri Lanka in late 2024. The announcement, which was declared on May 13, 2025, is part of South Africa's attempt to earn the prestigious title at the 'Home of Cricket.'

The team is made up of a good mixture of players that are both experienced and young. Bavuma is the captain, and in the batting lineup, you can see Aiden Markram, Tony de Zorzi, and David Bedingham.  The pace bowling department, which is the backbone of South Africa's success, consists of Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, and Marco Jansen, who is also the all-rounder depth alongside Wiaan Mulder. Keshav Maharaj, who is the sole spinner, will be important on a Lord's track that tends to support spin towards the later part of the game, while Gerald Coetzee brings firepower to the bowling division. Kyle Verreynne and Heinrich Klaasen are expected to do wicketkeeping, with Liam Stubbs and Dane Paterson completing the team.

Australia, at the top of the WTC table with a percentage of 62.50 following their dominant 3-1 series victory over India in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, will provide a stiff challenge with their veteran team guided by Pat Cummins. As both sides are famed for their strong bowling attack and fighting batsmen, the final will prove to be an engaging one and a historic occasion for South Africa as they seek to chisel their name on the WTC mace.

South Africa Squad for WTC Final 2025

South Africa Squad: Temba Bavuma (c), Tony de Zorzi, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Marco Jansen, Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Gerald Coetzee, Kyle Verreynne, Heinrich Klaasen, David Bedingham, Liam Stubbs, Dane Paterson.

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South Africa will have a pre-tournament match against an XI of England during the first part of June before getting battle-fit for the Australians in this history-making Test.

While the race for the final two spots in the 2023-2025 ICC World Test Championship points table is becoming a thriller as time progresses, New Zealand have recently received two huge blows. After losing their first game in a three-match home Test series against England, they now received another blow in the points table. 

Christchurch hosted the Test series opener between New Zealand and England, where England won by eight wickets. While New Zealand climbed to a challenging position in the ongoing WTC cycle points table after their historic whitewash against the hosts India in the three-match Test series, the Christchurch defeat was a blow for the Blackcaps, who are battling for the next WTC final. 

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England and New Zealand suffer three-point deduction

For maintaining a slow over-rate in the Christchurch Test, both England and New Zealand have been handed a deduction of three points each in the WTC points table and penalised 15 percent of the match fees from all players of the match. 

During the Christchurch Test, both teams were three overs short of the target after time allowances were taken into consideration. New Zealand captain Tom Latham and England captain Ben Stokes both have accepted the proposed sanction, which means that there is no need for a formal hearing. 

Despite the Christchurch Test win, England are out of contention for the next WTC final. They have earned 102 points in 20 games in this WTC cycle, while they also faced a total of 22 points deduction due to slow over rate. Their latest points percentage is 42.50, and they are standing in sixth place, just below New Zealand. 

After losing the Christchurch Test, the inaugural WTC winners New Zealand were struggling in joint fourth place with 72 points after 12 Tests, and the points percentage was 50.00, similar to Sri Lanka. Due to the latest deduction of three points, the Blackcaps slipped to fifth place with a points percentage of 47.92 (69 points).

India, South Africa, and Australia are the present top three

India are leading the ongoing WTC cycle points table with 110 points after 15 Tests with a points percentage of 61.11. South Africa have climbed to second place with a points percentage of 59.26 (64 points) after winning the Durban Test against Sri Lanka by 233 runs. Meanwhile, the defending champions Australia, are in third place with a points percentage of 57.69 (90 points).

Pakistan’s chance to qualify for the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final remain alive, but only just. Despite a rocky journey marked by a historic series defeat to Bangladesh and a tough loss to England, a recent turn of events has kept Pakistan’s hopes alive, although they face a steep and challenging path. To secure a spot, Pakistan must not only win all their remaining matches but also hope for favorable results from other teams in the competition.

Pakistan’s remarkable comeback and current standings

Following a series of disappointing results, Pakistan bounced back with a 2-1 series win over England at home, moving from eighth to seventh place in the WTC standings. This alone wasn’t enough, but the competition was turned on its head when New Zealand delivered a stunning performance, defeating India 2-0 in a three-Test series on Indian soil. With this result, Pakistan remains mathematically in the race, though their chances hinge on achieving a perfect record in their remaining matches and seeing other results fall in their favor.

Currently, India and Australia lead the standings, with India’s lead narrowing to a mere 0.32 percentage points (PCT). New Zealand’s victories have elevated them to fourth place with a 50.00 PCT, while Pakistan stands at seventh with a 33.33 PCT.

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What Pakistan need to qualify

For Pakistan to reach the WTC final, they must win all four of their remaining Test matches—two away against South Africa and two at home against the West Indies. A clean sweep would elevate Pakistan’s PCT to 52.38, yet this alone won’t be sufficient. Their qualification still depends on other top teams like India, Australia, Sri Lanka, New Zealand, and South Africa losing key matches, which would open up the standings enough for Pakistan to squeeze into the top two.

The journey ahead is challenging, but Pakistan’s recent success against England and New Zealand’s unexpected triumph over India have reignited their WTC ambitions. For now, Pakistan remains in the conversation as they gear up to fight for the elusive final spot.

India is gearing up for a busy Test season with the goal of reaching the final of the World Test Championship 2025 (WTC). Led by Rohit Sharma, the team will play 10 Test matches over four months. The BCCI has required star cricketers and Test specialists to play in the Duleep Trophy, except for the legendary trio.

Currently, the focus is on the Indian white ball team as they prepare for a T20I and ODI series against Sri Lanka. Gautam Gambhir will lead the team as head coach for the first time. However, the national team will soon shift its focus to red ball cricket with a packed Test season ahead.

BCCI’s Duleep Trophy mandate

India is set to play 10 Test matches in four months, starting with a two match series against Bangladesh on September 19, followed by three matches against New Zealand at home. Then, the team will travel to Australia for a five match series to retain the Border Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) and aim for a third consecutive series win on Australian soil.

Before this intense Test season, Indian cricketers will get back into red ball mode in the Duleep Trophy 2024 from September 5th to 22nd. This competition features top players from all six zones.

Preparation through Duleep Trophy

According to the Press Trust of India (PTI), BCCI secretary Jay Shah has mandated that even star cricketers must play in the Duleep Trophy. The BCCI wants India’s Test specialists to play at least one or two games before the Test series against Bangladesh. However, an exception has been made for Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Jasprit Bumrah, who can choose whether to participate or not.

The selection for the Duleep Trophy will be done by the men’s senior team selection committee, with all Test team stars, except Kohli, Rohit, and Bumrah unless they decide to play.

Jay Shah, the secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), has confirmed that Rohit Sharma will lead the Indian national team in the current World Test Championship (WTC) cycle from 2023 to 2025

and also in the ICC Champions Trophy scheduled for 2025. In a video message Jay Shah shared recently, “I am confident that under the captaincy of Rohit Sharma, we will win the WTC Final and the Champions Trophy.”

Jay Shah’s confidence in Rohit’s leadership

Rohit Sharma secured his first International Cricket Council (ICC) trophy as captain when he led the Men in Blue to victory in the T20 World Cup 2024, co-hosted by the United States of America (USA) and West Indies.

Rohit Sharma’s path to captaincy

Rohit took over as captain of the Indian team in late 2021, following Virat Kohli’s decision to step down from leadership. Initially facing mixed results, including losses in the Asia Cup and the T20 World Cup in 2022, the team rebounded the following year to win the Asia Cup.

India had a remarkable journey in the 2023 ODI World Cup, winning 10 consecutive matches before narrowly losing to Australia in the final in Ahmedabad.

In T20 matches, Rohit successfully led India to victory in the World Cup, making them the first team in the tournament’s history to claim the title without losing a single game. In Test cricket, Rohit has guided India to series victories against Australia and England on home soil.

New Zealand is poised to commence their World Test Championship cycle with a two-Test series against Bangladesh in Bangladesh starting on November 28, and Captain Tim Southee foresees spin playing a significant role. Although New Zealand, renowned for thriving in pace-friendly conditions at home, has not played a Test in Bangladesh since 2013, their full-strength squad, bolstered by spin specialists like Ish Sodhi and Ajaz Patel, is well-prepared for the challenge.

The squad also includes spinners Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Santner, and Rachin Ravindra, with Santner and Ravindra returning to the Test side after gaps since 2021 and early 2022, respectively. Southee expresses confidence in his spin attack, anticipating their success against a Bangladesh side without key batters Shakib Al Hasan and Litton Das.

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Return of Spin: Southee Anticipates Subcontinent Challenge in Bangladesh Tests

In the absence of Shakib and Litton, New Zealand’s formidable lineup, featuring Kane Williamson, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham, and Devon Conway, aims to confront Bangladesh’s spinners, including Taijul Islam and Mehidy Hasan Miraz. Southee acknowledges the absence of Shakib and Litton but believes it provides an opportunity for others to step into those roles.

Southee expects a competitive showing from Bangladesh, led by Najmul Hossain Shanto, even without key players like Shakib, Litton, Ebadot Hossain, and Taskin Ahmed. The first Test is scheduled for November 28 in Sylhet, followed by the second in Dhaka on December 6.

Test Squads:
Bangladesh: Shadman Islam, Najmul Hossain Shanto (c), Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Nurul Hasan (wk), Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Shahadat Hossain, Hasan Mahmud, Shoriful Islam, Taijul Islam, Khaled Ahmed, Mominul Haque, Hasan Murad, Nayeem Hasan

New Zealand: Tim Southee (c), Tom Blundell (wk), Devon Conway, Kyle Jamieson, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Ajaz Patel, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Kane Williamson, Will Young, Neil Wagner

New Zealand has announced its squad for the upcoming two-match Test series against Bangladesh, which marks the second leg of their tour to Bangladesh following a previous T20I series held in September. The Test series is set to kick off on November 28 in Sylhet, with a two-day practice match scheduled just before the official series opener.

Spin Focus: Inclusion of Mitchell Santner and Rachin Ravindra

New Zealand’s squad selection for the Bangladesh tour places significant emphasis on spin bowling. Notably, experienced campaigner Mitchell Santner and the promising talent Rachin Ravindra have been included in the squad.

Mitchell Santner, who last played a Test match in 2021, displayed an impressive performance during the Plunkett Shield season, claiming 15 wickets with an average of 26.00. Rachin Ravindra, a standout performer in the ongoing World Cup, returns to Test cricket after his last appearance in New Zealand’s home series against Bangladesh in January 2022.

A Strong Spin Contingent

Santner and Ravindra join a formidable spin unit that already features the likes of Ajaz Patel and Ish Sodhi. Additionally, all-rounder Glenn Phillips provides extra spin options for the New Zealand side under the leadership of Tim Southee.

Selector Sam Wells expressed confidence in the spin group, praising Rachin Ravindra’s development, his left-arm orthodox spin, and his notable batting performances in the World Cup.

Kyle Jamieson, who has recovered from back surgery in February, returns to bolster the Test squad, providing a different dimension to the pace attack. Unfortunately, New Zealand will miss the services of senior pace bowler Trent Boult during the upcoming tour.

New Zealand Test Squad for Bangladesh Tour:

• Tim Southee (c)
• Kane Williamson
• Tom Blundell (wk)
• Devon Conway
• Matt Henry
• Kyle Jamieson
• Tom Latham
• Daryl Mitchell
• Henry Nicholls
• Ajaz Patel
• Glenn Phillips
• Rachin Ravindra
• Mitchell Santner
• Ish Sodhi
• Will Young

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England cricketer Alex Lees has shared insights about his banter with Indian star Virat Kohli during the final Test of the series at Edgbaston in July 2022. Despite his limited international experience, Lees revealed that Kohli was trying to assert his dominance. He explained that Kohli was sledging Lees’ teammates and behaving in an unpleasant manner.

Not one to remain silent, Alex Lees, in light of Virat Kohli’s relatively poor recent form and the absence of a century for over two years, seized the opportunity to sledge him with the classic line, “I’ve had two kids since you last scored a century.” Speaking to the Telegraph, Lees explained, “Because I was an inexperienced international, he was attempting to assert himself. It was not very clever cricket banter. He was simply continuing in a manner he occasionally adopts. He had been getting on people’s nerves in the field while batting.”

Alex Lees regards Virat Kohli as a fierce competitor who is determined to win

Alex Lees also discussed his banter with Virat Kohli and praised the Indian batsman’s competitiveness. He mentioned that the best response to Kohli would have been to score a century in a winning cause.

Lees said, “He is just a human, and I knew it must be playing on his mind, which was likely the thing that would irritate him the most. Once I had a word with him, he seemed to lose his composure, especially when we resumed play after tea. He’s a competitor; he has a strong desire to win. I may never fully grasp the immense pressure of representing a billion people, but you can still be competitive without losing your temper. I knew I had gotten to him. The biggest disappointment for me was that I reached 56 and then got run out. The ultimate comeback would have been to score an unbeaten century and win the game, but I didn’t get the opportunity.”