There will be a reserve day for the ICC World Test Championship final, which will take place at The Oval in London from June 7 to 11. (12 June). At the 2021 final in Southampton, New Zealand defeated India by eight wickets to win the inaugural competition.
In the current cycle’s nine-team points standings, Australia is in first place with a respectable points percentage of 75.56, followed by India with 58.93. The two sides are scheduled to compete in a four-match Test series, commencing on February 9 in Nagpur, and the outcome will be a key factor in choosing the winners.
Given that we lost out on overrates the last time, the World Test Championship Final has served as a significant source of motivation for us over the past few years, according to Australia skipper Pat Cummins.
“Playing at a neutral site like The Oval offers a new dimension for both teams that advance to the Final. It’s fantastic and has been a long-term aim of ours. After a particularly successful year, we are optimistic that we can find a property while we are in India. For the players and staff who have worked so hard, winning the Final would be a wonderful reward.
Leading Side India onto the field of play in the World Test Championship Final would be unique, according to India’s captain Rohit Sharma, who was a crucial member of the Indian team in their runners-up performance in the maiden cycle under Virat Kohli. We have improved as a team during this campaign, and in order to have a chance of winning the Mace at the Oval in June, we know we must first defeat a formidable Australian squad.
“Test cricket has recently featured a tonne of spectacular moments, and there will definitely be more. The possibility of securing our spot in the Final and, maybe, making history later in the year excites me.
South Africa (48.72%) and Sri Lanka (53.33%), who are now in third and fourth place, both have a chance. In the current cycle, Sri Lanka still has two Tests against New Zealand on the road, while South Africa’s final task is a two-match home series against the West Indies.
Sri Lanka is still in with a solid chance of reaching the World Test Championship Final. The Sri Lankan captain Dimuth Karunaratne stated, “We have done well to be among the top contenders, and if we can finish a strong Test series on the next New Zealand trip, our prospects of making it to the Final would appear like a higher possibility.
“We are aware of both the possibility and the difficulties we will have in securing this fantastic chance to participate in the WTC Final. This tournament is excellent for red-ball cricket because it guarantees that every game is played at maximum intensity and that all teams, whether they advance to the Final or not, will play to successfully conclude the current cycle.
“While we may have a remote chance of qualifying for the World Test Championship Final, there is no greater encouragement than the notion of competing for silverware in such a historic format at such a historic site,” South Africa captain Dean Elgar said.
“With the West Indies Test series right around the corner, we are focused on the challenge ahead and eager for victory in this format. We would love to add some additional drama to a current tournament and earn a spot in the Final in June because there is so much at stake.
