Lord's primed to host WTC 2023 Final - ICC Chairperson George Barclay

The ICC World Test Championship final of the ongoing cycle (2023) is likely to take place at the 'Home of Cricket' Lord's in June 2023.

ICC Chairperson George Barclay confirmed the same during his recent appearance at the BBC Test Match Special during the ongoing Test between hosts England and the reigning champions New Zealand.

"I think it is scheduled for Lord's; that was always the intention," said Barclay, as quoted by ESPNCricinfo.

Lord's Cricket Ground was originally scheduled to host the final of the inaugural World Test Championship but owing to Covid-19, it was eventually played at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton last June.

The major reason behind the Ageas Bowl getting the hosting rights for the showpiece event of Test cricket was the presence of the on-site hotel at the stadium.

With the global pandemic seemingly nearing its end and bio-bubble restrictions being phased out, the ICC is hoping to formally announce Lord's as the venue for the next WTC final during its Annual General Meeting (AGM) scheduled for next month.

"It's June, so that rules out a number of other venues, and we've got to get certainty around where it's hosted. We're out of Covid now, so subject to arrangements being made and being able to be hosted out of Lord's, I think that's the intention," Barclay added.

The inaugural Test championship final took place between New Zealand and India last summer.

It proved to be a rain-affected fixture, with Day 03 getting completely washed out.

However, the reserve day that the ICC had added prior to the match came in handy as New Zealand seamers ran through India's middle-order on the sixth afternoon to set up a historic win for the Kane Williamson-led Blackcaps.

The rest was done by the experienced duo of Williamson and Ross Taylor as they weathered the early storm to guide their side past the finishing line in the final session of play.