The International Cricket Council (ICC) just did something awesome. Sheffield Shield cricket would be worth watching for English cricketers should England host the next three WTC finals (2027, 2029 and 2031), as has been decided by the ICC. This proud decision underlines England’s status as the world-class home of international cricket, having now hosted all of the previous successful WTC finals.
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) couldn’t contain their delight at this historic feat. Chief Executive Richard Gould said that the ECB is “over the moon” to have been granted the right to host the tournament once more. For players and fans, he noted, these kinds of events are indispensable.
England’s promise and successful recent record in hosting WTC finals turned out to be a critical factor in ensuring these future events went the other way. The first of the World Test Championship finals held in 2021 in Southampton, completely in a biosecure environment. In 2023, supporters packed The Oval to the brim for the sold-out raucous final. The 2025 final at Lord’s saw South Africa triumph over Australia, further solidifying England’s status as a fitting venue for such prestigious matches.
Gould was impressed by the excitement whipped up by cricket fans back in England. He remarked, “This is testament to the passion that fans in this country have for this treasured format of the game and the willingness of supporters from around the world to travel here for these games.”
Aside from their successful hosting of the finals, England’s national team has never made it to the championship match itself. In the new 2023-25 World Test Championship cycle, England again came fifth. This disappointing result robbed them of the opportunity to fight for the title on home turf.
The ICC shared the news during its annual conference in Singapore. During this event, they announced that India had targeted to host the 2027 final. England’s excellent track record of staging major cricketing events tipped the balance firmly in their favour.
England are now qualified for the next three World Test Championship finals. Fans all around the world can expect an epic showcase of Test cricket that will continue to promote the sport’s unique history and intense rivalries!
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