ICC World Test Championship Final at Lord’s: History, Legacy & What Awaits

ICC World Test Championship Final 2025: A Journey into the Grandeur of Lord’s

As the world gears up for the highly anticipated ICC World Test Championship Final 2025, all eyes will be on a venue that has symbolised cricketing greatness for over a century—Lord’s Cricket Ground. When South Africa takes on Australia from June 11 to 15, the historic ground in St John’s Wood, London, will play host to this showpiece event for the first time in its rich history.

Affectionately known as the ‘Home of Cricket’, Lord’s is far more than just a sporting venue. It is a living museum, a sanctuary for cricketing tradition, and the embodiment of the sport’s timeless elegance. Hosting the World Test Championship Final at Lord’s adds another chapter to its illustrious story, bridging cricket’s glorious past with its high-stakes modern future.

Lord’s: Where History Breathes in Every Corner

To understand why the ICC World Test Championship Final being held at Lord’s is so special, one must first understand the aura that surrounds the ground itself. Established in 1814, Lord’s has been the home of Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) and has set the tone for the evolution of cricket globally. Its very first international Test match, played between England and Australia in 1884, laid the foundation for countless iconic moments that followed.

From Don Bradman’s unforgettable 254 in 1930 to Graham Gooch’s mammoth 333 against India in 1990, Lord’s has seen masterful performances that are now etched into cricket folklore. The iconic honours boards in the pavilion immortalise those moments, featuring names of players who’ve scored centuries or taken five-wicket hauls at the ground. For every cricketer, getting their name on that board is a dream steeped in reverence.

Now, as South Africa and Australia gear up for Test cricket’s ultimate prize, Lord’s offers them the chance to join this elite company.

A Ground That Bridges Generations

Hosting the ICC World Test Championship Final at Lord’s continues a legacy of staging cricket’s most prestigious events. The venue has previously hosted the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Final on five occasions, including the thrilling 2019 final between England and New Zealand, which ended in a dramatic Super Over. It has also been the stage for two ICC Women’s World Cup Finals, most recently in 2017, where England triumphed over India in a match that elevated the profile of women’s cricket globally.

Lord’s is unique because it doesn’t just celebrate success—it preserves and displays it. The MCC Museum, located inside the ground, is one of the oldest sports museums in the world. Its prized possessions include the original Ashes urn and the first men’s and women’s World Cup trophies. As fans walk its corridors, they are taken on a journey through time, reliving some of the most significant events in cricket history.

Tradition, Ceremony, and the Long Room Walk

What sets Lord’s apart from any other cricket stadium is its deep-rooted sense of tradition. One of its most iconic rituals is the walk through the Long Room, a revered passage from the dressing rooms to the field that every batter must make. This walk is often described as a mental test in itself, as it requires passing through a hall filled with MCC members and historic portraits—featuring legends such as W.G. Grace, Sir Ian Botham, Charlotte Edwards, and Shane Warne.

The five-minute bell, a more recent addition introduced in 2007, has also become part of Lord’s lore. It is rung by a notable cricketing personality before the start of play each day, a ceremonial nod to the day’s unfolding drama.

Lord’s Beyond Cricket: A Versatile Sporting Venue

While Lord’s is world-renowned for cricket, it has also embraced other sports over the decades. Real tennis and rackets are still played at the venue. Historically, Lord’s has hosted baseball, hockey, lacrosse, and even the archery events at the London 2012 Olympics, proving that while it remains a shrine to cricket, it is not bound by it.

This versatility has only enhanced Lord’s reputation, making it not just a ground, but a sporting institution—one that continues to evolve while remaining deeply respectful of its heritage.

The ICC World Test Championship Final 2025: Making New History

The upcoming final is more than just a contest between South Africa and Australia. It is a celebration of Test cricket itself, hosted at a venue where every blade of grass holds a story. With two of the world’s most competitive Test sides competing for the ICC Test Championship mace, fans can expect high-quality cricket steeped in passion, pride, and purpose.

For players, walking out at Lord’s with the opportunity to etch their name into history is as much a mental reward as it is a physical one. As Keshav Maharaj recently said, the goal is to “honour the legends of the past” and hope to one day be remembered among them. That honour, if achieved at Lord’s, becomes immortal.