World Test Championship: Lords confirmed as the venue for 2023 and 2025 finals

The World Test Championship finals will be played at the legendary Lords stadium in 2023 and 2025, according to the International Cricket Council (ICC). After the ICC’s AGM in Birmingham ended on Tuesday (July 26), the decision was made public.

The first World Test Championship final between India and New Zealand took place at the Ageas Bowl in 2021. The final, which was initially slated to be played at the Lord’s but was shifted to Southampton because to the Covid-19 limitations in force at the time, was won by New Zealand.

Nine Full Members participate in the World Test Championship, which has a two-year cycle, and play six series each—three at home and three away.

Given that the matches are slated for June, when England is busy with the County Championship seasons, ICC chairman Greg Barclay had already mentioned the prospect of Lord’s hosting both of the finals in an interview with BBC’s Test Match Special earlier this season.

Barclay said, “it’s June so that rules out a number of other venues and we’ve got to get certainty around where it’s hosted. We’re out of Covid now so subject to arrangements being made and being able to be hosted out of Lord’s, I think that’s the intention.”

The first World Test Championship was played between India and New Zealand

The ICC recently declared the selection of Daniel Vettori of New Zealand and legendary Indian batsman VVS Laxman as current player representatives. In Rahul Dravid’s absence, Laxman, who also serves as the director of the National Cricket Academy in India, recently assumed the post of head coach for the Indian squad during a two-match T20I series in Ireland.

Roger Harper, a former West Indies all-rounder, has been chosen as a previous player representative to the committee and will now join Sri Lankan batting legend Mahela Jayawardene.

The ICC said, “Daniel Vettori and VVS Laxman have also been appointed to the ICC Men’s Cricket Committee as current player representatives, while Roger Harper has been appointed as the second past player representative, joining Sri Lanka’s Mahela Jayawardena.”

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