WTC is also known as World Test Championship. It is a new tournament organized by ICC. Its motive is to regain the popularity of the test format and make it lively again. All test-playing nations participate, and the best, according to the standing pool table, face each other in finals. Matches comprise home and away matches for all teams. New Zealand is the first WTC winner; the second season will be held in June 2023. India has managed to qualify for both the season. This article will discuss the 2021-2023 cycle of WTC.
1. Ben Stokes
Ben Stokes is one of the finest all-rounders in the current lot. He is an asset to whichever team he plays. Ben is a batting all-rounder. Currently, he refrains from bowling and does batting only. Ben has the potential to lead a team, and this was evident from the move by ECB to make him captain in the matches against associate nations. He sustained an injury while playing IPL, but now he is fit and recently participated in a test match against Ireland. He has 28 sixes under his name.
2. Rishabh Pant
Rishabh is one of the most entertaining cricketers among the list of players here. He is a great batting player apart from it. Pant is dangerous on foreign pitches. He has scored centuries against big nations on their home soil. He has even single-handedly won test matches like BGT matches. He plays aggressively against the orthodox style of test batting. He attacks every bowler and scores quickly. Pant is also best at sledding the batters of the opposition while keeping. Currently, he is under treatment and rehab after his unfortunate accident and has been out for some months.
3. Daryl Mitchell
Daryl Mitchell is a New Zealand player who has been playing regularly for his nation. He plays all three formats for his team. If we discuss the WTC edition second, he hit many sixes in his duration of innings. He plays as an all-rounder in the playing eleven.
4. Jonny Bairstow
Jonny Bairstow is another English player on our list. He has been a regular opener for his side for a few matches. Otherwise, Jonny plays in the middle order. Apart from Jos, he also keeps wickets and is good at keeping them. Jonny can switch his mode from defensive to aggressive whenever it is required. Hence, he is a versatile player. This player plays all formats. He is good on his home soil mainly.
5. Travis Head
Travis Head is another Australian player on the list. He is known for his quick cameos and aggressive starts in an inning. He played in different positions for his national side. He is a three-format player and has also left his impression in the longer format as well. He is another to-look player in the finals of WTC where he will play a crucial role if included in the playing eleven.
6. Babar Azam
Babar is the all-format skipper of the Pakistan cricket team. He is a young guy who has done wonders for his nation. Babar became a skipper early and won against teams like Australia and India. He even leads his team to Asia Cup final and the t20 world cup knockout stages. His achievements at an early age give a glimpse of Virat Kohli, and often cricket experts compare him with this legend. Babar is yet to perform and shine in difficult swinging pitches of England and Australia. He scored many runs only on his home soil.
7. Shreyas Iyer
Shreyas was initially a limited-over batsman who used to play at the number four position in the batting order. Upon benching Rahane after his poor form, he got a chance and scored a hundred on his debut in a test format. He then started playing continuously for Team India, especially in home matches. He is a good player of spin and can hold his team after the collapse. He plays at number five as a proper batter. Apart from batting, he can give you good bowling spells. Currently, he is injured and is not playing.
8. Axar Patel
Axar is a bowling all-rounder who developed during the later stages of WTC. He is a healthy bowling option on spin-friendly pitches with Ash and Jaddu. He bowls with wicket line and length and has a good economy in the test format. If we talk about his batting contribution, he also did a lot as he supports the lower batting order and help in finishing the innings on a good note many times. He is part of the squad that will play the WTC final in 2023.
9. Steve Smith
Steve Smith is a legend in the test format. He is another player from Australia. Smith is a good middle-order batsman. Although he was out of action for a year for suspension he made a great comeback to cricket. He is an okayish player in the limited-over format, but his skills upgrade when he plays the test format. He is a great leader apart from it. For the finals of WTC, he is an excellent player for the Aussies as he knows the Indian line very well, and his performance will decide Australia’s efforts to win the cup.
10. Usman Khawaja
Usman is our next player of discussion. He belongs to the Australian cricket team and is a left-handed opener in the playing eleven. Usman even batted in the middle order as per requirement. Since the last matches, he was the partner of David or Travis while opening. Usman is one of the batsmen who play spin well. He is well acquainted with the Asian condition and had scored well against teams like India. Usman will be playing against India again during the WTC final.
