India’s showdown vs New Zealand in inaugural World Test Championship final to be held at Ageas Bowl

The inaugural World Test Championship final between India and New Zealand is to be held at the Ageas Bowl.

Sourav Ganguly, the president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India, revealed on Monday that the showpiece match to crown a first world champion in the traditional format of the game will be played at Hampshire’s headquarters.

Official confirmation is expected on Tuesday from the International Cricket Council, who – as reported by Sportsmail in January – delayed announcing the venue for the June 18 fixture as they held out for the prestige of Lord’s.

The Ageas Bowl has finally been chosen to host the inaugural World Test Championship final

However, the ECB advised the ICC last year that the Ageas would be their recommendation should they be looking for the contest to be played in a bio-secure environment.

Hampshire were contacted in December to discuss hosting arrangements but have spent the past three months playing a waiting game.

Their Southampton site – which houses an on-site hotel, gyms, a nursery ground plus an adjoining golf course, making it ideal to create match ‘bubbles’ – was one of two grounds along with Emirates Old Trafford that the ECB used to host 21 international matches behind closed doors last summer.

India confirmed their place in the final last weekend when they completed a 3-1 series win over Joe Root’s England via an innings victory in Ahmedabad.

Meanwhile, New Zealand are awaiting guidance from the ECB via the government as to their quarantine requirements upon entry to the UK ahead of a two-Test series which starts on June 2.

India will face New Zealand in the showpiece starting on June 18 at Hampshire’s headquarters

New Zealand face England in a two-Test series before taking on Virat Kohli’s India side