The World Test Championship 2023 Final will be hosted by The Oval in June 2023 while the 2025 Final will be played at Lord’s.
The two venues in London will succeed Southampton, which hosted the inaugural final between New Zealand and India in 2021. New Zealand emerged as the victors in the first edition of the World Test Championship.
The Oval will host the final in June 2023, with the top two teams from the World Test Championship standings making the cut. The Oval has previously hosted the finals of the 2004 and the 2017 editions of the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy.
Australia and South Africa are currently the top two teams in the standings, with a host of teams on their trail, hoping to surpass them on the table.
Australia have a points percentage of 70, followed by South Africa on 60%. Australia and South Africa will also clash against each other in a three-match series in the current cycle in December-January, which could have a big bearing on the final points table.
Sri Lanka (53.33%), India (52.08%) and Pakistan (51.85%) round up the top five of the standings. With many series still to go in the current cycle, there could be many twists and turns in the points table before the two finalists are decided.
The next edition’s Final will take place at Lord’s in London, an iconic venue, which has hosted several high profile ICC matches, including the epic 2019 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup final.
“We are delighted to be hosting next year’s ICC World Test Championship Final at The Oval which has such a rich legacy and an amazing atmosphere, which is ideal for such an important fixture on the calendar,” said ICC Chief Executive Geoff Allardice.
“Following that we will then take the 2025 Final to Lord’s which will provide a fitting backdrop to the ultimate Test.
“Last year’s final between New Zealand and India in Southampton was an engrossing encounter and I am sure fans the world over would be looking forward to the next WTC final at The Oval. On behalf of the ICC, I would like to thank the England and Wales Cricket Board, Surrey County Cricket Club and Marylebone Cricket Club for their support.”
Exact dates for both the finals will be decided in due course.
