The test championship will take place over 2 years, include 9 teams, 27 test Series and a total of 72 matches, with the final being at Lords.

The teams involved in the test championship are Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka and the West Indies, with the first match in the Championship being the first Ashes test match between England and Australia, which starts on Thursday the first of August.

Points for wins will be distributed according to the series being played. A win in a 2 match series will yield 60 points, a win in a 3 match series will be 40 points, a win in a 4 match series will give a team 30 points and a win in a 5 match series will yield 24 points.

The Proteas will begin their World Test Championship with a 4 match series in India, which begins on 2 October, followed by an incoming tour where they will host England over the festive season starting with a Boxing Day Test at Supersport Park in Centurion. Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, and Johannesburg will host the following three matches.

Going into the first series, Proteas skipper, Faf du Plessis, is aware of the challenge that lies ahead.

"Probably two really tough test tours in a row, India away and then coming home to have England in South Africa is going to be a cracker," the skipper said.

"It's a highlight for us in our season as well, the test tour in our summer. Boxing Day test, New Year’s test against England will be really really great tests to play in, so I'm looking forward to that," he added.

The top two teams at the end of the two-year cycle will play-off in a five-day final to determine the overall winner. If the final is drawn or tied, the team that finished on top of the table will be declared the winner.

@Samludidi - OFM Sport