BCCI president Sourav Ganguly has revealed that the World Test Championship final between India and New Zealand will be held at Hampshire’s Ageas Bowl from June 18 to 22 2021.
When the ICC Board had approved the inaugural cycle of the WTC, it had informally earmarked Lord's as the potential venue for the inaugural India-New Zealand final.
Lord's has hosted several World Cup finals - for both men and women - but it would need the ECB's nod, who were given the hosting rights for the WTC final by the ICC. Incidentally, Lord's will be hosting the first match of the two-Test series between England and New Zealand from June 2 to 6.
According to Ganguly, the Ageas Bowl emerged as a clear favourite because it is one of the two venues - Manchester being the other - with an on-site hotel, an advantage for teams operating in a bio-secure environment during the Covid-19 pandemic. Having on-site hotels meant both venues hosted international series involving West Indies, Pakistan, Ireland and Australia in the summer of 2020.
Southampton was the venue for the first Test against West Indies last July, which was also the first international match and series played during the pandemic. Subsequently, the Ageas Bowl hosted two Tests during the Pakistan series, and later ODIs against Ireland and T20Is against Australia.
The WTC final impacts on the ECB Southern Premier League programme with the Hampshire Academy’s scheduled home match against Bournemouth being delayed 24 hours and played at Chapel Gate on Sunday 20 June 2021.
When the ICC Board had approved the inaugural cycle of the WTC, it had informally earmarked Lord's as the potential venue for the inaugural India-New Zealand final.
Lord's has hosted several World Cup finals - for both men and women - but it would need the ECB's nod, who were given the hosting rights for the WTC final by the ICC. Incidentally, Lord's will be hosting the first match of the two-Test series between England and New Zealand from June 2 to 6.
According to Ganguly, the Ageas Bowl emerged as a clear favourite because it is one of the two venues - Manchester being the other - with an on-site hotel, an advantage for teams operating in a bio-secure environment during the Covid-19 pandemic. Having on-site hotels meant both venues hosted international series involving West Indies, Pakistan, Ireland and Australia in the summer of 2020.
Southampton was the venue for the first Test against West Indies last July, which was also the first international match and series played during the pandemic. Subsequently, the Ageas Bowl hosted two Tests during the Pakistan series, and later ODIs against Ireland and T20Is against Australia.
The WTC final impacts on the ECB Southern Premier League programme with the Hampshire Academy’s scheduled home match against Bournemouth being delayed 24 hours and played at Chapel Gate on Sunday 20 June 2021.