The International Cricket Council (ICC) has decided to host the 2027 World Test Championship (WTC) final at The Oval, while concerns over the quality of the pitches at Lord’s will not see the major tournament played there next year.
According to British media, following the success of last year’s WTC final played at Lord’s, the ICC had given England the chance to host the next three finals, but the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) decided to move the 2027 final to the Oval.
According to the report, the management of Lord’s (MCC) is conducting a comprehensive review to improve the quality of its facilities. The pitch for England’s Test match against New Zealand last month was deemed “unsatisfying” by the ICC and Lord’s was given a demerit mark for the first time, following which plans to rebuild the pitch are underway.
According to sources, the MCC hopes that the 2029 WTC final will again be held at Lord’s if the quality of the pitches improves.
The county of Surrey will also reap the financial benefit of The Oval hosting the final, as it will now host the World Test Championship final alongside the fifth Ashes test next year.
After the defeat against Bangladesh, Pakistan were relegated in the World Test Championship
One reason for the ECB’s decision is the short gap between the WTC final (June 9-13, 2027) and the second Ashes Test at Lord’s (June 30-July 4). Also, in memory of the large Bangladeshi community in London, Lord’s hosted the only Test match between England and Bangladesh.
Manchester’s Emirates Old Trafford, on the other hand, was originally due to host a Test match in 2027, but pulled out following the new schedule, while Lancashire County will be compensated instead.
It is worth mentioning that the first three finals of the World Test Championship were also played in England. In 2021, New Zealand defeated India at Southampton, in 2023, Australia defeated India at The Oval, while in the 2025 final, South Africa defeated Australia at Lord’s to win the title.
According to the ICC, England is considered the most suitable host for the WTC final due to its strong ticket sales as a neutral venue.
