The International Cricket Council (ICC) confirmed on Wednesday that the second edition of the ICC World Test Championship Final will be held at The Oval in London, England, from June 7 to 11, 2023.
The Oval has hosted over 100 Test matches in its history and will welcome the top two Test sides in the ICC World Test Championship standings in June to compete for the ICC World Test Championship Mace after two years of hard-fought competition.
The ICC World Test Championship final is the pinnacle event on the Test calendar, lasting a week and celebrating the game's longest format. The final, dubbed the "Ultimate Test" by the ICC, is the culmination of two years of intense competition in a cycle spanning 61 Test matches across 24 series played to date.
"It would be an honour to lead Team India onto the field of play at the World Test Championship Final. We have grown and developed as a team during this competition, and we know that in order to lift the Mace at the Oval in June, we must first defeat a tough Australia side."
"There have been a lot of dramatic moments in Test cricket recently, and there will undoubtedly be more. I'm excited about the prospect of booking our spot in the Final and possibly making history later this year "India captain Rohit Sharma stated.
Australia currently leads the standings, with India in second place, and both teams will compete in a four-Test series for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy beginning February 9 at The Oval, with a place in the final and the coveted ICC World Test Championship Mace firmly in their sights.
"The prospect of playing in the World Test Championship Final has been a big motivator for us in recent years, especially after missing out on over rates the last time. Playing at a neutral venue such as The Oval adds another dimension for both teams who make the Final."
"It's exciting, and it's been a long-term goal of ours. We are confident that we will be able to secure a position while in India, following a very successful year. The Final would be an excellent reward for the players and staff who have performed admirably "Australia captain Pat Cummins agreed.
While six teams have a chance to qualify, the frontrunners to challenge Australia and India are Sri Lanka, third in the standings, and South Africa, fourth, who face reigning WTC champions New Zealand and the West Indies in two two-Test series in February and March.
"Sri Lanka has a strong chance of reaching the World Test Championship Final. We've done well to be among the top contenders, and if we can complete a strong Test series on the upcoming New Zealand tour, our chances of reaching the Final will improve."
"We are aware of both the opportunity and the challenges that await us in securing this fantastic opportunity to play in the WTC Final. This competition is great for red-ball cricket because it ensures that every game is played at the highest level of intensity, and the teams will compete whether they qualify for the Final or not "Sri Lanka captain Dimuth Karunaratne said.
While the two competing nations are not yet known, there are a number of significant fixtures scheduled to take place in the coming weeks to determine the finalists, and anticipation is building for the June clash.
"While we may have an outside chance of qualification for the World Test Championship Final, there's no greater encouragement than the thought of playing for silverware in such a historic format at such a historic ground."
"We are hungry for success in this format, and are focused on the challenge ahead with the West Indies Test series around the corner. With so much to play for, we would love to add some more drama to an already exciting competition and qualify for the Final in June," stated South Africa skipper Dean Elgar.
Remaining ICC World Test Championship Fixtures
India v Australia (1st Test) - Nagpur, India, February 9-13
India v Australia (2nd Test) - New Delhi, India, February 17-21
South Africa v West Indies (1st Test) - Centurion, South Africa, February 28-March 4
India v Australia (3rd Test) - Dharamsala, India, March 1-5
South Africa v West Indies (2nd Test) - Johannesburg, South Africa, March 8-12
New Zealand v Sri Lanka (1st Test) - Christchurch, New Zealand, March 9-13
India v Australia (4th Test) - Ahmedabad, India, March 9-13
New Zealand v Sri Lanka (2nd Test) - Wellington, New Zealand, March 17-21