The World Test Championships might not be played at the iconic Lord’s Stadium in London. The International Cricket Council (ICC) is said to be in a discussion with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to finalise the venue for the June event.
Quoting ICC sources, The Times of India wrote that the ICC are not banking on Lord's to be the venue for the Test Championship finals. "The ICC’s medical board after discussions with ECB advisers will come to the final conclusions,” the report stated.
“The ICC could go the way of ECB and might host the final at one of the two venues used by ECB for the English summer last year,” the source told TOI.
Out of the two venues in contention, Manchester and Southampton, the latter has a greater preference because of the huge presence of the South Asian community in the area and ICC planning to allow some amount audience for the game.
Southampton cricket boss Rod Bransgrove confirmed to Cricbuzz that the availability of Ageas Bowl had been discussed by ICC. "I can't give much information apart from the fact that there has been discussion about it," he said. "I can say we have been asked to stage it and also inquired if Southampton is available. I don't know if anything has been finally decided as yet," Bransgrove added.
Indian team clinched the remaining spot for the final of the inaugural edition of WTC after defeating England 3-1 in their four-match home Test series. The Virat Kohli-led team will meet New Zealand, which finished second on the WTC Points Table at the end of the two year’s window from 2019 to 2021. The final was initially slated to be played at Lord’s, but pandemic has now changed the course of the event. The match is scheduled to be played between 18-22 June.