Nathan Lyon, Suggested A Significant Change To The WTC Final Format

Australian spinner Nathan Lyon has proposed a bold and ambitious idea for the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) Final to be expanded into a three-match series, played across different countries. Lyon believes that such a format would more accurately reflect the true nature of Test cricket, which often requires teams to adapt and perform under varied conditions.

He pointed out that a single match can be swayed by one bad session, potentially undermining the consistency that teams have shown over the two-year WTC cycle. By expanding the final into a three-match series, Lyon argues that teams would have a fairer chance to demonstrate their dominance or ability to bounce back, making the final a more comprehensive test of their abilities.

“It’s not tournament play. You can’t just be scraping into the semi-finals and losing two games or what not,” Lyon said. “You’ve got to be consistent over the two years of the cycle.

“One thing I would like to see, I’d like to see the World Test Championship Final potentially in a three-match series. That may become a little bit better because you potentially can lose using a Test match in one session where [in a three-match series] it may allow teams to bounce back all your show their dominance and win 3-0. We’re pretty time-poor anyway and that’s going to be a challenge but that’s one thing I would change.

“You potentially could go one in England, one in India, one in Australia, so you have all different conditions, but obviously, the timing of that changes everything. I don’t think we’re going to get on the MCG in the middle of August, just putting it out there.”

Lyon suggested that the matches could be held in cricketing nations with different conditions, like England, India, and Australia. However, he acknowledged the logistical and scheduling challenges, especially given the time constraints and the impracticality of hosting matches in certain countries during off-seasons.

Despite these challenges, Lyon praised the WTC’s two-year format, emphasizing that it sets Test cricket apart from other competitions by requiring sustained excellence over an extended period. He noted that the WTC ensures every match has significance, eliminating “dead rubbers” and keeping the competition intense and meaningful throughout the cycle.

Reflecting on Australia’s recent performances, Lyon mentioned the narrow defeat to the West Indies in Brisbane, which served as a reminder of the importance of every match in the WTC cycle. This loss, Australia’s only home defeat in the current cycle, impacted their standings, underscoring the WTC’s emphasis on consistency.

Lyon views the WTC as the Test cricket equivalent of a World Cup, highlighting its significance as the pinnacle of the long format of the game. He concluded by stressing the importance of being consistently good over a two-year period to compete in the WTC Final, making it a genuine test of a team’s quality and endurance.