The ICC has confirmed England will host the next three World Test Championship (WTC) finals, pencilled in for 2027, 2029 and 2031. The endorsement, signed off at the global body’s annual conference in Singapore, follows three successful editions on English soil since 2021.
Key reason, according to an ICC note, is the ECB’s “successful track record in hosting recent finals”. A switch to India had been floated, yet administrators opted for familiarity. For Richard Gould, the ECB chief executive, the news is simple validation. “We are absolutely delighted that England and Wales has been chosen to host the next three ICC World Test Championship Finals. It’s a testament to the passion that fans in this country have for this treasured format of the game and the willingness of supporters from around the world to travel here for these games. Hosting these finals is a privilege, and we look forward to working with the ICC to build on the success of the previous editions.”
The early-June window, tucked neatly between the IPL and the main block of international tours, stays in place. English conditions – a hint of swing in the air, long evenings under light cloud – have already delivered three lively contests: New Zealand v India at the Ageas Bowl in 2021, Australia v India at the Kia Oval in 2023 and, just last month, South Africa’s five-wicket win over Australia at Lord’s.
Attendance figures do a lot of the heavy lifting. Neutral Tests elsewhere can be patchy at the gate; in England they fill fast. Gould, speaking before this week’s vote, was blunt on that point. “We don’t think that we’ve got any absolute right to be the continual host of the WTC [final], but there are advantages to having it here. Irrespective of who gets into the final, we will sell it out… We’re probably the only member nation within the ICC that could deliver that. We recognise that perhaps others would like to take it around the world at some point… But the worry is if you move it, end up with two neutral teams, and don’t get a crowd, the whole thing could devalue and deflate pretty quickly.”
The ICC chair, Jay Shah, was visibly buoyant at Lord’s last month, impressed by both atmosphere and commercial return. Even so, the governing body has not yet nailed down which ground hosts which year. Lord’s feels the obvious choice, though the Oval and perhaps Old Trafford will fancy a shout.
For now, players can plan ahead knowing the showpiece remains in one of Test cricket’s most reliable theatres. Fans, whether die-hard or casual, can mark the early-summer slot and trust there’ll be a decent crowd, a bit of cloud cover and, with luck, a final worthy of the occasion.
