As the WTC final between Australia and South Africa kicks off on June 11 at Lord’s, Australian captain Pat Cummins made a notable statement about the venue hosting.

Cummins said that while playing the final at the same venue (Lord’s) each cycle is convenient and the location is iconic, he believes the team that won the previous WTC cycle should get the right to host the next final. This would add a new dimension to the event, rewarding the champions with home advantage.

He acknowledged the prestige of Lord’s but emphasized that giving the hosting rights to the reigning champions would make the competition more special and competitive.

Cummins also highlighted the strong desire among Test-playing nations to perform at their best in ICC events, underlining Australia’s focus on defending their title with top-class batting and bowling.