The ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final will return to The Oval in 2027 as Lord’s misses out, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced on Thursday.
The decision comes in the wake of growing scrutiny over the quality of pitches at Lord’s, which was handed its first ICC demerit point last month after the surface for England’s Test against New Zealand was deemed “unsatisfactory”.
Lord’s had been widely expected to host the 2027 final following the success of the 2025 showpiece, where South Africa lifted the mace, though the venue was never officially confirmed.
The switch also hands Surrey a significant boost. The Oval will now host both the WTC final and the fifth Ashes Test next summer.
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Published on Jul 23, 2026