The International Cricket Council (ICC) has officially confirmed a major venue shift for the 2027 World Test Championship (WTC) final, with the historic Lord’s Cricket Ground losing its hosting rights to London’s The Oval. The ultimate clash for the Test mace is now scheduled to take place from June 9 to June 13, 2027.
While the ICC previously awarded the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) the hosting rights for the 2027, 2029, and 2031 WTC finals, the specific venue selection was left to the board’s discretion. The ECB ultimately bypassed the traditional “Home of Cricket” in favor of The Oval. According to reports, this significant decision was heavily influenced by mounting concerns regarding the pitch quality at Lord’s. The iconic venue recently received its first-ever ICC demerit point after the pitch for last month’s Test match between England and New Zealand was rated as “below average.”
This upcoming event will mark the second time The Oval has hosted the prestigious WTC final. The South London ground previously served as the battleground for the 2023 edition, where Australia secured a commanding victory over India to claim the championship title.
