The Oval Cricket Ground in London has emerged as the leading contender to host the World Test Championship decider next summer.
The ground has previously hosted ICC Champions Trophy finals in 2004 and 2017. The ground is known for hosting annual Tests, often the final Test of a summer. It is a fine international venue in its own right, but often is talked about in the shadow of the highly touted Lord’s which is also in the same city.
The World Test Championship final is due to start on 6th or 8th of June. Pakistan, Australia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, India and West Indies are all in the running to qualify for this fixture when Test Cricket resumes in Perth on 30th of November after the conclusion of the ICC Twenty20 World Cup in the same country.
Lord’s are now more interested to host the England vs Ireland Test in June instead which will act as a curtain raiser for The Ashes which follow. Lord’s has long been the preferred venue for the ICC to conduct the World Test Championship final for both editions, but circumstances around Covid in 2021 and now commercial contractual obstacles for the 2023 fixture have prevented the game from being hosted at ICC’s desired location.
Unless there is another twist in the tale, Test Cricket’s showpiece event is heading to South London in the second week of June.
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