Ben Stokes Critiques ICC World Test Championship Format As Confusing Ahead Of New Zealand Series

Ben Stokes, the England Test captain, has expressed his dissatisfaction with the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) structure. He described it as "utterly confusing" and admitted that England does not prioritize this tournament. These remarks came before England's first Test against New Zealand in the Thorpe-Crowe Trophy series.

Despite finishing fourth in the last WTC cycle, England has yet to reach a championship final in three editions. Stokes stated, "In all honesty, the World Test Championship, it is a bit confusing, it's one of those where, you know, we don't really look at it, I don't look at it." This highlights their lack of focus on the WTC.

Under Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum, England has embraced an aggressive style known as "Bazball." Since becoming captain, Stokes has led England in 29 Tests with 17 wins, 11 losses, and one draw. This approach has made them one of the most exciting teams in Test cricket.

The Thorpe-Crowe Trophy series is part of the current WTC cycle. England ranks sixth with a points percentage of 40.79 and is already out of contention for the 2023-25 final. Their packed schedule complicates prioritizing the WTC. "We play a lot more cricket than anyone else does," Stokes noted.

Stokes emphasized focusing on immediate goals rather than a two-year-long tournament. He said, "If you end up finding yourself in the position where you happen to be in that World Test Championship final, then it's great." This reflects their game-by-game approach.

England's current tour in New Zealand includes a three-match Test series. On day one of the first Test, New Zealand scored 319/8 with Kane Williamson making 93 runs. England's Shoaib Bashir took four wickets during this innings.

Stokes believes playing good cricket consistently will naturally lead to success in tournaments like the WTC. He mentioned that if they find themselves in the final mix by playing well over time, it's beneficial but not their primary focus.

The team's philosophy has received both praise and criticism but remains focused on delivering results through entertaining cricket. Stokes highlighted that they take things "game by game, series by series," which contrasts with the long-term nature of the WTC.