The ICC World Test Championship ultimate between India and New Zealand, which was scheduled to happen at cricket’s most iconic venue Lords, will now be played in a bio-secure bubble on the Hampshire Bowl in Southampton. The ultimate will be played from June 18 to 22 with June 23 saved because the reserve day.
The determination, taken by the ICC Board, follows discussions with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) the place a spread of choices had been thought of to make sure the inaugural ultimate might be staged safely with the potential impression of COVID-19 minimised for all concerned.
In choosing The Hampshire Bowl, the ICC drew on ECB’s expertise of delivering a full summer season of bio-safe worldwide cricket in 2020. The venue offers world-class enjoying and coaching amenities, giving each groups the absolute best setting in which to put together. Whilst the on-site lodging will considerably scale back the chance round COVID-19 transmission and higher defend the well being and security of everybody concerned in delivering the ultimate.
Should the UK authorities’s phased easing of COVID-19 lockdown measures proceed as deliberate, it’s anticipated {that a} restricted variety of fans will be allowed into the Hampshire Bowl to watch the ultimate.
New Zealand was the primary staff to make the ICC World Test Championship ultimate they usually had been joined by India following their sequence win over England which concluded on Saturday.
“The ICC World Test Championship final is the pinnacle event in the Test calendar and is intended to be a week-long celebration of the oldest form of the game,” stated Geoff Allardice, ICC General Manager, Cricket in an official assertion.
“A format that is rooted in tradition and features the best that the game has to offer. I would also like to congratulate both India and New Zealand for becoming part of history by reaching the first final.”
“We are confident that in selecting the Hampshire Bowl, we have given ourselves the best possible chance to successfully deliver the final whilst keeping everyone involved safe and healthy and giving fans the opportunity to watch the two best Test teams in the world go head-to-head for the right to call themselves the ICC World Test Champions,” Allardice added.
Tom Harrison, Chief Executive Officer, England, and Wales Cricket Board stated: “We are delighted that the ICC has chosen to host the inaugural World Test Championship ultimate at The Hampshire Bowl.
“As the world’s first fully bio-secure cricket venue, it has shown itself capable of delivering international matches to the highest of standards, even against the backdrop of a global pandemic. I am sure the finale of the ICC World Test Championship will be a wonderful occasion.”
Rod Bransgrove, Hampshire Cricket Chairman, stated: “We are honoured and delighted that The Hampshire Bowl has been appointed as the host venue for the inaugural ICC World Test Championship final. I should like to sincerely thank the ICC for this huge demonstration of confidence in our capabilities and the ECB for its significant support of the venue as host of what will be the biggest Test match event ever staged.”
