Former Australian Cricketer Brad Hogg Slams ICC for Hosting World Test Championship Final in June

 Former Australian Cricketer Brad Hogg Slams ICC for Hosting World Test Championship Final in June, Citing Loss of Fan Interest

Australia's former all-rounder Brad Hogg has slammed the International Cricket Council (ICC) for hosting the World Test Championship (WTC) final in June. The summit clash will be held between India and Australia at the Oval, and Hogg believes that such a long wait would cause a loss of interest in Test cricket among fans.

Hogg expressed his concern in a video posted on his YouTube channel, where he questioned the ICC's decision to schedule the final three months after the main games have finished. He urged the ICC to "wake up" and think about the fans who would lose their momentum and excitement for the game when the final arrives.

Hogg added that the IPL, scheduled to start in April, would draw attention away from the WTC final. He further proposed getting players from the teams out of IPL contention to the UK as early as possible to get some time to prepare and adjust.

The four-match Test series between India and Australia concluded on Monday, with India emerging as the winners with a 2-1 lead. Both teams have now secured their places in the WTC final, which will be held in June.

India secured their place in the final after Sri Lanka lost to New Zealand by two wickets in the Christchurch Test. Sri Lanka needed to win both their matches against New Zealand to make it to the final.

On the other hand, Australia registered a victory in the third Test to enter the marquee event. The final will be played between the two teams at the Oval in June.

The WTC was launched in 2019 to give Test cricket more context and meaning. The top nine ranked Test teams compete against each other in a two-year cycle, with the top two teams qualifying for the final.

The tournament faced several challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with several matches postponed or canceled. However, the tournament resumed in 2021, with India and New Zealand as the first two teams to qualify for the final.

The WTC final will be a historic event for Test cricket, as it will be the first time two teams will compete for the title of world champions. The match is expected to be highly competitive and intense, as both India and Australia have a strong Test record and will be determined to come out on top.

Overall, Brad Hogg's criticism of the ICC's scheduling of the WTC final highlights the importance of considering the fans' interests in the game. While the tournament's format has added context to Test cricket, ensuring that the final is held at a time that maintains the fans' excitement and interest in the game is crucial.