Nathan Lyon proposes three-match series for WTC final across different continents

Australia's veteran spinner Nathan Lyon has put forward a bold new idea for the World Test Championship (WTC) final, suggesting that it should be expanded into a three-match series instead of a single Test. 

Lyon believes that such a format would better determine the true champions by having matches in England, Australia, and India, exposing teams to a variety of playing conditions.

Explaining his rationale, the 36-year-old emphasized the importance of testing finalists in different environments to truly assess their capabilities. 

“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,” Lyon told ICC.

However, Lyon acknowledged the logistical challenges of hosting the final across three continents, particularly the difficulty of scheduling a match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in mid-August. 

“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,” he said.

Lyon also praised the current WTC format, which ensures that every Test match carries significance, with no games being mere formalities. He reflected on Australia's loss to the West Indies at Gabba last year, a defeat that impacted their position on the points table. 

“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,” Lyon said.

It is worth noting that India and Australia are set to face off in the eagerly awaited Border-Gavaskar Trophy, a five-Test match series scheduled to take place in Australia from November 22, 2024, to January 3, 2025.

India has dominated recent encounters, including winning two consecutive series in Australia and maintaining strong performances at home.