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Australia Denied Training Access At Lord's For WTC Final As India Practice At Mecca Of Cricket

Abhinav Tyagi

Pat Cummins Walking - (Source :@Johns/X.com)Pat Cummins Walking - (Source :@Johns/X.com)

On June 11, the caravan moves to Lord's Cricket Stadium, where Australia and South Africa will lock horns in the final of the WTC 2023-2025 cycle. Both teams are sweating it hard in the nets, but controversy has erupted as reports suggest that the defending champions were denied permission to train at the Mecca of cricket. 

Notably, a report from FoxCricket stated that the Pat Cummins-led side, who are in London, were not permitted to train at Lord's on Saturday, June 8, three days before the mega final as Indian players were using the premises. Notably, the Shubman Gill-led side are also in England for a five-match Test series starting on June 20. 

Interestingly, India will square off against England at Lord's on July 10 in the 3rd Test of the series. Thus, the decision to deny training facilities to Australia, who have a match on Wednesday and allow India to use the Lord's facilities is raising several eyebrows. Nonetheless, the 2023 WTC winners were given permission on Sunday. 

Pat Cummins Hoping For A Civil Treatment At Lord's

Australia squad did not make it a big deal nor did skipper Pat Cummins spoke about it when he addressed the press on Monday. Instead, the right-arm seamer wished for a better treatment this time around at the Lord's. Notably, the last time Australia played at the Mecca of cricket, a huge controversy occurred as MCC members got involved in an ugly spat with the players and particularly Usman Khawaja. 

“There’s no one around, which is great. I’m sure it will be much more civil this time around. Things got pretty heated in the middle of that Ashes series, but I think a lot of them will have learned their lesson and I’m sure they’ll be very polite,” remarked Cummins speaking to FoxSports.

Focusing on the cricket front, Australia are looking to win consecutive WTC titles under the leadership of Pat Cummins, while South Africa have eyes set on their first major ICC trophy since 1998.