ICC announces venues for World Test Championship Final 2023 and 2025

The Oval will host the finals in 2023 [PC: Twitter]

The International Cricket Council (ICC) have unveiled the venues for the finals of the World Test Championship in 2023 and 2025, respectively. The 2023 WTC final will be held at The Oval, while the 2025 final will take place at the Mecca of Cricket, Lord's Stadium.

Southampton hosted the first-ever WTC Final between New Zealand and India in 2021, where the Blackcaps prevailed over the subcontinent giants. The Oval has earlier hosted finals of global event like the ICC Men's Champions Trophy in 2004 and 2017 editions.

The 2019 ICC Men's Cricket World Cup Final was played at Lord's, were hosts England won in quite a dramatic fashion against New Zealand.

ICC CEO Geoff Allardice expressed excitement over England hosting back-to-back WTC Finals 

“We are delighted to be hosting next year’s ICC World Test Championship Final at The Oval which has such a rich legacy and an amazing atmosphere, which is ideal for such an important fixture on the calendar.  Following that we will then take the 2025 Final to Lord’s which will provide a fitting backdrop to the ultimate Test."

The dates for both the finals will be decided at a later stage.

WTC 2021-2023 Cycle Updates

The current WTC cycle sees Australia lead the pack with 70 PCT, with South Africa and Sri Lanka occupying the second and third spots. Defending Test champions New Zealand are languishing at number eight, while runners-up from the previous WTC India are fourth.

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