Cricket fans worldwide experienced a wave of excitement as Australia clinched the last Cricket World Cup with a spectacular win by six wickets. The thrilling final match, with Australia at 241-4, and India just short at 240, was a nail-biter to the very end. But as the dust settles on the pitch, fans are left wondering, "What's next?"
Let's dive into what cricket enthusiasts can look forward to in the wake of the World Cup.
ICC World Twenty20 (Men)
The next big event slated on the international cricket calendar is the 2024 ICC Men's T20 World Cup. This tournament, held every two years, is a platform for the best Twenty20 teams from around the globe to compete for the coveted title. The upcoming edition will notably be the ninth of its kind. The tournament is scheduled to run from June 4 to June 20 and will be co-hosted by the West Indies and the United States, an exciting mix of cultures both on and off the pitch.
ICC World Twenty20 (Women)
Following the men's tournament, the 2024 ICC Women's T20 World Cup is certainly an event to anticipate. This championship, set to be the 9th edition of the Women's Twenty20 World Cup, will showcase the top female cricketing talent from across the globe.
Notably, Bangladesh will play host to this esteemed event between September and October 2024. As the first time Bangladesh is hosting this tournament, the event is sure to be marked by exceptional displays of skill and passion, highlighting the ever-evolving prowess of women in cricket.
Ashes Series
The Ashes Series is another exciting event that cricket fans can look forward to. This historic Test cricket series between England and Australia is a much-anticipated event that stokes the old rivalry between these two cricketing giants. The previous series, which ended in a 2-2 draw, saw England fight back from a 0-2 deficit. It left fans and players yearning for more action, especially since Australia narrowly retained the Ashes urn.
The next Ashes series will take place between November 2025 and January 2026. This series will undoubtedly showcase high-class cricket, strategic masterclasses, and unexpected twists – elements that make the Ashes a truly captivating spectacle for cricket fans worldwide.
World Test Championship
The pinnacle of international test cricket, the World Test Championship (WTC) is the tournament that cricket aficionados eagerly await. The WTC is a league competition for Test cricket run by the International Cricket Council (ICC), with the top nine teams in the world competing in a two-year cycle.
The 2023-2025 cycle of the championship officially commenced with the 1st Ashes Test on June 16, 2023. This series of matches between the top Test-playing nations provides a platform for cricketing brilliance and challenges teams to display their tactical prowess and resilience. The event's culmination, the WTC final, has been officially announced to be held at the iconic Lord's Cricket Ground in the summer of 2025.
This event promises to be a thrilling contest of will, skill, and strategy, with the world's best vying for the prestigious title.
Final Thoughts
As we look ahead, the cricket landscape promises a calendar full of thrilling sports matches, intense rivalries, and potentially history-making moments. These events offer a fantastic opportunity for fans to witness top-class cricketing action from the world's best players.
For those who enjoy online sports betting, these tournaments also present numerous chances to engage with the sport in a different way, adding an extra layer of excitement and anticipation to each game. Be it the tension-filled T20 World Cups, the historic Ashes series, or the strategic showdown that is the World Test Championship, the coming years in cricket are set to be a roller coaster ride of emotions, victories, and memorable moments.
