Nathan Lyon advocates unique proposition of three-match World Test Championship Final
Nathan Lyon wants the World Test Championship Final to be played across three matches in multiple countries.
Australian spinner Nathan Lyon has put forward an ambitious idea for the ICC World Test Championship Final to expand to a three-match series held across different countries.
Despite recognising the complexities and tight scheduling constraints this format would entail, Lyon believes that a multi-match final would more accurately capture the essence of Test cricket instead of a single-match affair, where the outcome of a series can hinge on an individual session.
A key figure in Australia's mace-winning 2023 World Test Championship campaign, Nathan Lyon explains the competition's significance to him.
Lyon also praised the World Test Championship for its unique two-year format, which sets it apart from other competitions in cricket by demanding consistent performances over an extended period.
“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.
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“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 emphasised that the World Test Championship format eliminates "dead rubbers" in individual series, ensuring that every match remains significant and competitive, with every point being vital within the two-year cycle.
He recalled the memorable match against the West Indies in Brisbane earlier this year, where Australia suffered a defeat in a thrilling contest due to Shamar Joseph’s remarkable bowling performance.
This remains Australia’s only home loss in the current World Test Championship cycle, placing them second behind India in the standings.
“Oh, yeah. I'll just say it's [World Test Championship] the pinnacle for Test cricket. People say it's sometimes a dead rubber when you turn 2-0 up in a three-match series or whatever it may be. But I feel like there's no more dead rubbers. I've never considered them dead rubbers, but there's always points on offer now. You look at us last year losing against West Indies at the Gabba hurt us a fair bit.
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“But then I would go to New Zealand and win away from home, which is one of the biggest challenges in Test cricket.”
Lyon regarded the World Test Championship as the ultimate equivalent of a World Cup in Test cricket, underscoring its importance as a premier, long-format competition.
“It's massive, but I feel like the World Test Championship for me is like the World Cup and that's a genuine big World Cup. When you are competing against the best for long periods of time over a two-year period, you have to be good for the whole lot,” he added.
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