World Test Championship 2023 Final likely to be staged at iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground: The test cricket fans could get a treat of watching the ICC World Test Championship 2023 final at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground, as the governing body looks to chalk out the final plans very soon. The International Cricket Council (ICC) is likely to announce the venue after their Annual General Meeting (AGM) next month.
Ahead of the World Test Championship 2021 Final between India and New Zealand, Lord’s Cricket Ground was informally earmarked as the venue to stage the contest, but, the covid-19 pandemic threat forced the officials to reconsider their decision.
Following a lot of deliberations, it was finally decided that the ICC World Test Championship 2021 final would be held at the Southampton in Ageas Bowl. Due to its on-site accommodation and logistics facility, Southampton was given a nod ahead of Lord’s.
However, with the United Kingdom, now, moving out of all the covid related restrictions it can be anticipated that the upcoming final of the World Test Championship will be hosted at the Lord’s Cricket Ground.
Notably, current England vs New Zealand test series is being played without the usage of the bio-secure bubbles. All the restrictions have been eased out following a decline in the covid cases.
“I think it is scheduled for Lord’s, that was always the intention,” ICC chairperson Greg Barclay said on BBC’s Test Match Special.
“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.”
There is plenty of work that needs to be done before ICC arrives at the decision to stage the world finals at the Lord’s.
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Test Cricket is loss-making for boards: ICC chairperson
Barclay further indicated that the introduction of the Test championship has brought some relevancy to the traditional format of cricket which otherwise was depleting over time.
Barring a few test series, the red-ball format of cricket is indeed a loss-making investment. India, England and Australia currently stand as the top three pillars of the test cricket.
Moreover, the test series between the England-Australia (The Ashes), India-Australia (Border-Gavaskar Trophy) and India-England (Pataudi Trophy) are considered the most profitable series.
“We are fortunate that we have other formats that can help us sustain Test cricket financially because other than one or two series it is effectively loss-making for boards,” said ICC chairperson Greg Barclay.
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