The ICC on Friday announced the prize money for the winners and runners-up of the World Test Championship final between India vs Australia at the Oval in England from June 7 to 11, with June 12 as the reserve day. The ICC said the Australia-India WTC final will be a major boost for both teams as apart from the crowning glory in the longest format of the game, the winners will also collect $1.6 million as winner’s prize money. The losing finalist will receive $800,000.
The prize money of the tournament is the same as the inaugural edition of the championship – the ICC World Test Championship 2019-21 – with a total purse of $3.8 million.
The Kane Williamson-led New Zealand team was awarded $1.6 million in addition to a scintillating mess in Southampton two years ago, courtesy of an eight-wicket win over India in the six-day final.
All nine participants of the ICC World Test Championship 2021-23 will get a share of the $3.8 million purse. South Africa earned $450,000 for finishing third in the ICC World Test Championship 2021-23 standings.
England, who made a late resurgence in the two-year cycle with an aggressive playing style, finished fourth on the table – a prize of $350,000.
Sri Lanka, who were in the running for a place in the finals before losing the series to New Zealand, have dropped to fifth place. Their share of the prize money is $200,000.
Sixth-placed New Zealand, seventh-placed Pakistan, eighth-placed West Indies and ninth-placed Bangladesh will each receive $100,000.
India begins training for WTC finals
The first batch of Indian players including Akshar Patel, Shardul Thakur and Umesh Yadav have reached England early along with the support staff led by coach Rahu Dravid. Under the watchful eye of Dravid, batting coach Bivikram Rathore and trainer Soham Desai, the Indian cricketers had their first training session on Thursday.
The rest of the Indian cricketers, including captain Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, are set to tour England after the IPL 2023 ends.
Senior-pro Cheteshwar Pujara has been in England for the past few weeks to play county cricket.
This will be India’s second shot at getting hold of the Test mace in as many editions. Under Kohli’s captaincy, they defeated New Zealand in the final of the previous edition.
