Lord's likely to host ICC Test Championship final

Lord's likely to host ICC Test Championship final
Last updated on Sunday, 12 June, 2016, 09:22 PM

The proposed ICC Test Championship which was expected to start in 2019, could begin as early as next year. © Getty
England's historic Lord's ground, considered the Mecca of Cricket, is being discussed as the likely venue for the final of the proposed ICC Test Championship, The Guardian reported on Sunday (June 12).

Lord's serves as a preferred option, primarily because of a far greater following for Test cricket in England, unlike in most other countries where stadiums have run empty for many years.

Even as the many aspects of the tournament need detailed planning, including scheduling and format, at the moment, David Richardson, chief executive of the International Cricket Council (ICC), had earlier stated that the tournament could start in 2019. However, as per latest reports, the tournament could take place as early as next year.

The plan involves making Test cricket a two-tier structure, divided into seven and five teams respectively with promotion and relegation system in place. The championship is expected to be played over a four-year cycle. If it is implemented as per current plan, it would require a reworking of the current Future Tours Program.

The proposal was pushed in ICC Cricket Committee's meeting last week in order to make bilateral Test series more meaningful. A more elaborate debate is set to take place at the governing body's annual conference in Edinburgh on June 27.

The plan to introduce a Test championship was mooted first in 2009. It then got postponed to 2013 and later to 2017, both times getting replaced by ICC Champions Trophy, which found greater backing from the broadcasters.

With England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) looking to cut down the number of home Tests from seven (currently) to five or six in the near future, in order to make room for a new Twenty20 league that could compete with the likes of the Indian Premier League, Big Bash League, Caribbean Premier League and Pakistan Super League.