England to Host ICC World Test Championship Finals

Following its successful hosting of the previous three finals since 2021, England has been officially designated as the host nation for the next three ICC World Test Championship (WTC) finals in 2027, 2029, and 2031.

The determination was formally approved during the ICC’s yearly conference held this week in Singapore, solidifying a widely expected decision ever since Lord’s venue for the most recent final, where South Africa triumphed over Australia by five wickets last month.

The ICC lauded the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) for its “established history in staging recent finals,” and chose to keep England as the host, despite speculation that the finals may move to India starting in 2027.

ECB’s Reaction

Richard Gould, the Chief Executive of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), voiced his excitement over the decision, noting how important it is to host these important events over the coming years.

Gould stated, “We are thrilled that England and Wales have been selected to host the next three ICC World Test Championship Finals.”

He continued, “It demonstrates the passion that fans in this country possess for this cherished format and the enthusiasm of supporters from around the globe to come here for these games. We see hosting these finals as a privilege and are excited to collaborate with the ICC to build upon the accomplishments of the previous editions.”

Scheduling and Venue Considerations

The ICC is still dedicated to holding the WTC finals in June—early in the English summer—a time that works well with the end of the Indian Premier League (IPL) and prevents conflicts with other significant international matches.

England’s special capacity to draw large crowds for neutral Test matches was essential to the decision.

This was shown at the 2023 final at The Oval, where Australia beat India, and at the inaugural 2021 final, which was held at the Ageas Bowl while COVID-19 restrictions were in place.

Gould admitted England’s hosting advantages while also understanding the possibility of future rotation.

He stated, “We don’t believe we have an absolute entitlement to consistently host the WTC [final], but there are benefits to holding it here.

He added, “Regardless of who makes it to the final, we will sell it out. We are probably the only member nation within the ICC capable of achieving that. We acknowledge that others may want to host it around the world at some point, but the concern is that if you move it and end up with two neutral teams without a crowd, the whole event could quickly lose value and deflate.”

However, a formal choice on whether Lord’s will remain the favored venue for future finals has not yet been made.