'Pretty hard': Pat Cummins floats major change to WTC final as Aussies eye history

Yahoo

4 hours ago

Pat Cummins isn't only out to make history as the first captain to win two World Test Championships - he's hoping to use victory as a bargaining chip to bring the concept to Australia. The Aussies go into this week's final against South Africa as hot favourites, seeking to defend the title they won against India at The Oval two years ago.
It's the first time the WTC has been held at Lord's and no decision has been made on where the 2027 edition will be staged. World cricket's cramped and complicated scheduling – up against myriad competing forces – and the vagaries of the WTC qualification process limits venue and timeslot flexibility.
It's why England in June has been chosen for all three finals to date. Cummins understands the logistical challenges but would like to explore the opportunity of the defending champion or top-ranked team hosting the decider in the future.
"I don't mind having it here (at Lord's). If you have to have it in one venue, this is the perfect venue to have it every time," he told Yahoo Sport Australia. "If not – and I know, logistically, it's probably pretty hard to move around - maybe the previous winner or top team gets to host the next one.
"It's pretty tricky nowadays trying to find a two-week gap in everyone's calendar, but if we don't have it here (at Lord's) then we can look at the previous winner's home or top team." The ICC is unlikely to tamper with the competition, preferring to start each cycle fresh and afford two countries the chance to compete in the final.
But the governing body may consider moving the final in 2027, with the powerful Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) already signalling its intention to bid for the match. India (twice), Australia (twice), South Africa and New Zealand are the four nations to have qualified for a final in the WTC's short history, with England hosting all three deciders.
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Australia has the chance to become the first team to claim back-to-back crowns after India took out the inaugural title in 2021. On the eve of this year's final, Usman Khawaja spoke of his love for Lord's ahead of what is likely to be his last match on England soil.
The veteran open doesn't expect any lingering hostility from the infamous 2023 Ashes Test, which turned ugly after Alex Carey's contentious stumping of Jonny Bairstow. He said: "We've always had pretty good support here.
"Either way, whether we get booed or cheered we're going out there to do a job of trying to win the World Test Championship. It'd be nice to lift up that mace at the end of the day three, four or five."
The ICC World Test Championship final (June 11-15) is on Prime Video and available to all members in Australia at no additional cost to their membership. Coverage starts 7.30pm (AEST). Pat Cummins is a Prime Video ambassador.