The World Test Championship has certainly changed the way Test series are viewed all over the world, as it now adds more value than before. Previously, Test series had a more specific bilateral value, which is why, at one point, people were not enjoying Test matches and began to believe they were meaningless. However, with the introduction of the WTC, this perception has changed, and the value of Test cricket has been enhanced. We have seen how teams are putting in effort to nurture their Test camps to win the WTC mace. It is also true that several top teams have tried to capture this title but have failed to do so.
If we see India, they reached both finals, losing to New Zealand in 2021 and then to Australia in 2023. But there are other teams that have never reached the finals, as they lost many games despite being considered top teams. Now, if we look at the entire WTC history, several quality teams have the most losses in WTC history. See the full list of teams that have lost the most games in World Test Championship history.
Teams that have lost most matches in WTC history
| Team | Matches Lost | Total Matches |
| England | 23 | 81 |
| Bangladesh | 21 | 27 |
| West Indies | 21 | 35 |
| South Africa | 17 | 34 |
| Pakistan | 17 | 35 |
| Sri Lanka | 16 | 33 |
| New Zealand | 15 | 34 |
| India | 14 | 49 |
| Australia | 10 | 46 |
England
The Three Lions, England, have revolutionised Test cricket with their “Bazball,” bringing an aggressive batting approach. Although from 2019 to 2021, in the first edition of the WTC, the team played 21 games and lost 7, they were contenders at one point. However, their slow over rate cost them the final. And If we see the full picture as well, England has played 81 games in total, which is the highest number of matches by any team, but they have lost 23. In the current cycle, they are in 5th place, having played 18 games but lost 8. Once again, it looks difficult for them to get into the WTC finals.
Bangladesh
Bangladesh comes in at number two on this unwanted list, having played 27 games and lost 21. Their recent loss came against India, where they were beaten by a 2-0 margin. The Bangla Tigers have always been considered dark horses, but it seems they are still in the dark themselves. They do have some players like Mushfiqur Rahim, Najmul Hossain Shanto, and Taskin Ahmed, but the team is not getting the results that are important for their existence in Test cricket.
West Indies
When we talk about Test cricket history, the first few names that come to mind are Sir Garfield Sobers, Vivian Richards, and Michael Holding, as they all performed magic for the West Indies in whites. But, the current West Indies team is not enjoying success like their predecessors. Throughout the entire WTC history, they have never come close to snatching the spotlight or securing a seat in the WTC finals, which is surprising for a team like the West Indies that has amazing players emerging, from Alzarri Joseph to the new young bowler Shamar Joseph, who thumped Australia in Australia. If we look at the current table, they are at the bottom, with 1 win, 6 losses, and 2 draws, which doesn’t suit them.
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