World Test Championship Final 2023 and 2025 to take place at the Home of Cricket!

The World Cricket Governing Council has finalized the Lord's Cricket Ground as the venue for the next two World Test Championship (WTC finals). The venue was finalized in the Annual General Meeting held this week in Birmingham, which concluded on July 26. With the next two finals to be played in the month of June, the English venues are the only options to play the match.

With the Home of Cricket having great relevance in the game, it can be said that it is the best place to play for the trophy. Notably, fans might remember that the 2021 final was meant to be played at Lord's. However, the COVID 19 restrictions in London and lack of bio-bubble facilities meant that the game was shifted to Southampton. At the Rose Bowl stadium, the players can stay at the hotels attached to the stadium.

None of these facilities are available in the Home of Cricket. Meanwhile, World Cricket Governing Council chairperson Greg Barcley in a chat with BBC's Test Match Special earlier in the ongoing English summer said that COVID 19 not having the same impact as it used to. This is the reason they were looking to host the biggest game at this venue although they are also making arrangements if need be.

"It's June so that rules out a number of other venues and we've got to get certainty around where it's hosted," Barclay had said. "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."

Talking about the WTC, nine teams are currently fighting for a place in the final for the 2021-23 cycle. New Zealand, who beat India in the final of the 2019-21 cycle, is in eighth place in the table. On the other hand, the 2021 finalists are fourth and would like to jump to the second before the cut-off. Their last two series will be against Australia at home and in Bangladesh.