WTC pitch ratings analysis: Which countries have the best & worst Test surfaces?
Published - 02 Jan 2026, 01:19 PM | Updated - 02 Jan 2026, 11:34 PM
The World Test Championship (WTC) was introduced by the ICC in 2019 to bring more context and competitiveness to Test cricket. Three full cycles have been completed, with a fourth edition currently underway. Notably, the ICC has tracked pitch and outfield ratings to assess the quality of playing conditions in Tests.
For every international match, match referees assess the quality of the pitch and outfield and report their findings to the ICC. Until November 2023, these conditions were graded using six different labels, from Very Good to Unfit. The ICC later reduced them to four categories to make evaluations more consistent.
ICC Pitch Ratings Reveal Sharp Contrasts Across Test Cricket
By the end of 2025, teams had played 224 Test matches across four World Test Championship cycles at 58 venues around the world. New Zealand won the first WTC title, followed by Australia and South Africa in the next two editions.
To compare pitch ratings fairly, older labels were aligned with the new system. Earlier “Good” and “Average” ratings were treated as “Satisfactory,” while “Below Average” and “Poor” were counted as “Unsatisfactory.”
During the 2025-26 Ashes, pitch ratings drew attention. The Melbourne Cricket Ground surface for the fourth Test received an “unsatisfactory” rating. Notably, the match ended inside two days, with 36 wickets falling and no batter reaching a half-century.
It was also the second Test of the series to finish early. In contrast, the Perth pitch earned a “very good” rating. 19 wickets fell on the first day, and the match ended quicker than the MCG Test.
World Test Championship (WTC) Pitch Ratings By Country
World Test Championship pitch ratings show clear differences between countries. New Zealand have received a “very good” pitch rating for 18 of the 22 WTC Tests they have hosted.
Australia have 43.75 percent of their WTC Tests played on “very good” pitches. England follow with 36.58 percent, while India have 32.25 percent of their home WTC Tests rated “very good.” Sri Lanka have just one “very good” pitch from 18 home WTC Tests.
A total of 10 pitches in the WTC have been rated “unsatisfactory.” Australia, India, and Pakistan have each hosted two such Tests. No pitch in England or New Zealand has received an “unsatisfactory” rating. No WTC pitch has been rated “unfit” anywhere in the world.
Which Country Has Served The Best Pitches In The WTC?
| Country | Matches | Very Good | Satisfactory | Unsatisfactory | Unfit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | 32 | 14 (43.75%) | 16 (50.00%) | 2 (6.25%) | 0 |
| India | 31 | 10 (32.25%) | 19 (61.29%) | 2 (6.45%) | 0 |
| New Zealand | 22 | 18 (81.81%) | 4 (18.18%) | 0 (0%) | 0 |
| England | 41 | 15 (36.58%) | 26 (63.41%) | 0 (0%) | 0 |
| West Indies | 21 | 5 (23.80%) | 15 (71.42%) | 1 (4.76%) | 0 |
| South Africa | 18 | 3 (16.67%) | 14 (77.77%) | 1 (5.55%) | 0 |
| Pakistan | 22 | 4 (18.18%) | 16 (72.72%) | 2 (9.09%) | 0 |
| Sri Lanka | 18 | 1 (5.55%) | 16 (88.88%) | 1 (5.55%) | 0 |
| Bangladesh | 13 | 2 (15.38%) | 10 (76.92%) | 1 (7.69%) | 0 |
Also read: Australia squad for fifth Test against England in Ashes 2025-26 announced; Steve Smith to lead
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ICC World Test Championship WTC India National Cricket Team The Ashes England National Cricket Team Australia National Cricket Team ICCAbout the Author
Sai Vaitla is an author at Cricketaddictor and he has been working since September 2022. Sai Vaitla...
