The real champions of cricket will be crowned in 2021 at the conclusion of the ICC World Test Champions.
The inaugural tournament, which will see the Test teams facing each other in a two-year period with three home series and three away series, will start on Thursday when England host Australia for the first Ashes Test at Edgbaston.
The Proteas will start their march to the top in October when they go to India their first away series.
Proteas captain Faf du Plessis believes this new trophy is the ultimate prize in cricket.
He explains: “The ICC Test Championship is something new and quite exciting for this format. For the last while we have longed to have something to play for that gives proper context to Test cricket.
“The Proteas have had some cracking contests in bilateral series over the last couple of years, and going forward, the stakes are high because every series matters over a period of two years with it culminating in a final at Lord’s.
%%%twitter https://twitter.com/faf1307?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@faf1307gives his thoughts on the newly launched ICC World Test Championship #ProteaFire #ICCTestChampionship #INDvSA #SAvENG pic.twitter.com/BkvJ2L5scx
— Cricket South Africa (@OfficialCSA)
“It’s refreshing; as the players we are looking forward to this new chapter of Test cricket.
“We have a tough assignment to start with against India away playing for the Freedom series.
“We beat them at home last season but playing against India in India is probably one of the toughest challenges for an international player. We then have the current world champions England at home, this is always a cracker of a series during our summer and one that we look forward to.
“We probably have the toughest start, but everyone will play everyone, so it doesn’t really matter.”
He adds: “I feel Test cricket is in a healthy state. The players who play all three formats will attest to the fact that Test cricket is the purest format of the game and it is still the No.1 format.”