WTC 2023 Final: Wondering why ICC chose The Oval over Lord's? This is the reason...

The iconic Lord's Cricket Ground continues to be an elusive place for the WTC finals as for the second straight time, the ICC opts for a different venue to stage the all-important game. With India taking on the 2021-23 leaders Australia for the coveted World Test Championship, one hoped to see the legacy of Lord's play host but after deliberations, it was decided that the final would be played at The Oval.

Why couldn't Lord's be the venue? Well, turns out that the Marylebone Cricket Club, or MCC, which controls the Lord's Cricket Ground, was unable to provide a 'clean' stadium to the ICC during the final, owing to prior commitments made to the sponsors. The term clean stands out to suggest that the ICC could not use the stadium for its own set of sponsorship deals. As a result, the authorities then turned towards The Oval which, accordingly, is the best-suited 'neutral' venue for both teams playing.

Also Read:
WTC 2023 Final: This is why India & Australia players are wearing black armbands 

However, Lord's has been confirmed as the venue for the third edition of the World Test Championship with the ICC announcing so, back in September 2022. The final of the 2023-2025 edition of the WTC will be back in England for the third consecutive time and the ICC has given its word to host the final at Lord's.

"The two venues in London will succeed Southampton, which hosted the inaugural final between New Zealand and India in 2021. New Zealand emerged as the victors in the first edition of the World Test Championship," said ICC in its statement.

The first edition of the WTC, which was played in 2021, too, was to be held at Lord's but with the threat of Covid-19 still looming large, ICC was again forced to consider Southampton's Ageas Bowl. Reportedly, Ageas Bowl's on-site arrangements made it better suited for the bubble system that was in place at the time.