WTC finals have definitely delivered in providing pinnacle event for Test cricket: ICC CEO
The last World Test Championship final was played between Australia and South Africa in England, and Lord’s was packed
International Cricket Council
MUMBAI: The three World Test Championship finals held so far have "definitely delivered" on the aim of creating a pinnacle event for the traditional format of the game, said ICC CEO Sanjog Gupta here on Thursday.
New Zealand, Australia and South Africa have each won the WTC once with India finishing runners-up twice.
Gupta highlighted that a packed Lord's during the previous edition's final between Australia and South Africa, despite the absence of India and hosts England, was a landmark moment for the global governing body.
"What the World Test Championship final attempts to do, beyond just being a five-plus-one-day event where the two best teams compete for the greatest prize in the format, is to give context to the two years of Test cricket that precedes that final," Gupta said during the announcement of ICC’s global partnership with AB InBev India (Budweiser 0.0) here.
"That was the endeavour with which the World Test Championship was launched and what we've seen with three editions past us now, is that the World Test Championship final has definitely delivered on the goal of providing a pinnacle event for Test cricket."
He said the turnout at Lord’s showed that the WTC final has stirred interest among fans, who now look forward to it just as they do with other flagship events.
"The last World Test Championship final was played between Australia and South Africa in England, and Lord’s was packed," he said.
"India was not playing, England was not playing, (but) Australia was taking on South Africa, and Lord's was packed, which means that we now have a pinnacle event in Test cricket which the world waits for, or the world that enjoys Test cricket waits for.”
Gupta added that the growing anticipation among fans in the months leading up to the final also strengthens the broader storytelling around Test cricket.
"The other thing that it did was, in the six months leading up to the World Test Championship final, the entire narrative was around who will feature and that gives additional meaning, context, and significance to the bilateral Test cricket that's being played in the lead-up to that World Test Championship final," he added.