AB de Villiers calls for changes in WTC format despite South Africa's historic win at Lord's: 'Something needs to be done'

Former South Africa cricketer AB de Villiers wants changes in the World Test Championship (WTC) format to make it fair for all teams. South Africa recently won the WTC 2025 final at the Lord’s with De Villiers in attendance.

This was South Africa’s second ICC title win and first-ever world trophy, but critics have questioned them playing fewer matches against the top teams in the 2023-25 cycle as compared to the losing finalist, Australia.

AB de Villiers calls for changes in WTC format

Reacting to the historic WTC final win, De Villiers said that it will instill a newfound belief in the South African cricket team, but also added that changes are required in the WTC format.

“We’ve had some very disappointing and sad ends to a lot of campaigns, especially the World Cups, but now it’s time to start believing that we can do this more often,” he told BBC World Service’s Stumped podcast.

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“[This moment] won’t be lost. It was too big and too special for all South Africans – it was a Test match no one will ever forget. But yes, to a certain extent, something needs to be done.”

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De Villiers suggested that instead of having a two-year WTC cycle, it can be spread over four years, allowing all teams to play against each other and creating a more balanced schedule.

“I saw the schedule that came out for the next cycle of the WTC and there is an improvement, but I still feel there’s work that needs to be done there to just to get it as consistent as possible and as fair as possible for all for all Test-playing nations.”

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“You want to get to that final feeling like you’ve played against all these nations,” De Villiers added. “Maybe a four-year cycle would be nice. We’ve done that in the past with one-day internationals, so why not in Test cricket? It would make sense and it would give the organisers just so much more time to get a really fair, well-balanced system out there.”