World Test Championship 2023: Why is the final being played in England?

06-06-2023
4 min read
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The upcoming 2021-2023 World Test Championship (WTC) Final between rivals Australia and India is set to begin on June 7th in London.

The two sides qualified for the final following a two-year period, with India's recent series victory on home soil against the Aussies securing their spot.

The match will be held at The Oval - one of the most famous grounds in world cricket - and will be the second installment of the tournament. 

With the clash being between Australia and India, many have been questioning why it will take place in England once again after the first WTC Final was held in Southampton back in 2021. 

MORE: How India qualified for Word Test Championship final

Where is the World Test Championship final?

This year's final will be played at The Oval in London.

It will be the second-ever WTC final after the maiden edition was played at the Rose Bowl in the English south coast city of Southampton.

The 2023-2025 edition of the WTC will conclude at Lord's. 

Why is the World Test Championship Final played in England?

The decision to hold the WTC Final in England comes down to a number of likely factors - none of which the ICC have ever formally revealed.

Given the window of the tournament, a lot of the top-tier Test cricket nations will be in the middle of their winters when the final rolls around in June, while the UK are in the beginning of their summer. 

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The conditions in England are conducive to even Test cricket, as opposed to India with spin-friendly decks, Australia's flat wickets and South Africa's big seamers. 

England also have some of the best grounds in world cricket, with the likes of Lord's and The Oval perfect neutral venues for both players and spectators. 

When is the World Test Championship Final?

The final will be held from June 7 to June 11, with June 12 put aside as a potential reserve day. 

Each day will begin at 10.30 am local time in England, which is 7.30 pm AEST and 3 pm IST. 

How to watch the World Test Championship final in Australia

The WTC final will be broadcast on TV in Australia via Fox Sports.

It can also be streamed on Kayo or through ICC.tv

World Test Championship: History, structure, points

After being canceled in both 2013 and 2017, the WTC was finally introduced in 2019.

The championship runs over the course of two years, with the current edition beginning in August 2021 and the final scheduled for June 2023.

Teams are awarded points for 12 points for a victory, six points for a tie, four points for a draw, and zero points for a loss, with percentages factored in for each result and sides ranked on those percentages.