Ben Stokes dismisses World Test Championship as ‘weird’ and ‘utterly confusing’

England captain Ben Stokes has called the World Test Championship (WTC) “weird’ and utterly confusing.

It’s quite possible Stokes is simply brushing off the tournament because England are struggling in the standings of the 2023-25 edition (they’re sixth overall, only ahead of Pakistan, the West Indies and Bangladesh) and will again miss out on the final.

Or maybe Stokes is just a little defensive because England are yet to appear in the biennial tournament since it was first introduced in 2019.

There are only two WTC title holders so far, Australia (2021-23) and New Zealand (2019-21). India have played off in both the finals.

Speaking ahead of England’s first Test against New Zealand, Stokes said he did not spend any time thinking about the standings (India is currently on top, followed by Australia, Sri Lanka and New Zealand).

“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,” Stokes told reporters.

“I don’t look at it.

“It’s one of those where, over a long period of time, if you’re playing really good cricket, you’re getting results that you want, you’ll end up finding yourself there in the final and in the mix.

“For me and this team, it’s about taking it game by game, series by series.

“And if you end up finding yourself in the position where you happen to be in that World Test Championship final, then it’s great but it’s a real weird one knowing that you’re playing for something over a long period of time.”

“(I) can’t remember (if I’ve) ever given any real time to be specifically thinking about the World Test Championship ... (it’s) utterly confusing.”

He England played “a lot more cricket than anyone else” and he just focussed on the Test ahead.

“If we play well, we’ll be there or thereabouts but if we don’t, then we won’t be,” he said.

New Zealand and England split a memorable two-match series 1-1 in Mount Maunganui and Wellington on the last tour of Stokes’s squad in February, 2023.

The current series begins in Christchurch on Thursday (today) and returns to Wellington for the second Test from December 6, before finishing off with the third match in Hamilton from December 14.

A series sweep could secure New Zealand a place in the World Test Championship final and a chance of reclaiming the trophy they won in 2021.

New Zealand captain Tom Latham said his players were not concerned about the bigger picture, and were now only focusing on the days ahead at Hagley Oval.

“If we get into that position of getting a chance (for the WTC final), then that’s great, but I think that’s a by-product of doing the things that we do well over a period of time,” he said.

- With AAP