Aakash Chopra believes that the final of the WTC in 2023 should not be just a single game; instead, it should consist of three matches. On June 7 – 11, India and Australia will head to head in the second WTC final at The Oval. India was defeated by New Zealand in the previous Test Championship final, played in 2021 in Southampton.
Chopra commented that the conditions in England are unfavorable for Asian teams and suggested that the three-match series should contain one Test match at home, one away, and one game held in a neutral location. He voiced his thoughts on Twitter in a post.
#1 Test Championship deserves a proper series
It is interesting to note that the finalists for the World Test Championship are chosen from multiple series, yet the champion is determined based on a single Test match. The irony was especially highlighted in 2021 when before their final against India, New Zealand were already amid a series in England, giving them an obvious edge heading into the deciding game.
#2 It should be fair for all
The ICC had mentioned that the packed cricketing schedule does not allow for a best-of-three final. However, the WTC final must be played as a three-game series to ensure fairness and a true measure of teams’ abilities. As teams travel to various locations during the tournament to secure a spot in the final, the match at the top should also serve as a ‘test’ of the team’s performance across different conditions.
#3 What makes the WTC different from World Cup
The World Test Championship should not be decided based on one match, as the tournament lasts over two years. A month or two is sufficient to decide the World Cup winner, and five days at a neutral venue sound quite unfair. Chopra puts it perfectly in his tweet:
No tournament lasts two years to find its winner. So, please don’t throw ‘Final should be one knockout game’ in my direction. Test cricket is a very unique sport… lasts five days. Championship lasts two years. Finals can surely be a 3-match series.”