The Road to Riches Weekend of 12th-13th September

Coming up this weekend

• Horse Racing, Over the jumps at Bath, Chester, Doncaster and Musselburgh and on the all-weather at Lingfield.
• Football, Premier League fixtures include Manchester United v Manchester City
• Cricket, T20 International Series England v Sri Lanka
• NFL, Week One of the regular season
• Formula One, the Spanish Grand Prix in Madrid
• Golf, the Biltmore Championship on the USPGA Tour and the BMW PGA Championship on the DP World Tour.
• Tennis, Davis Cup World Group Matches

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NFL 2026 

2026 Regular season package now available for £125 here including Week One recommendations for Sunday

Last year the package won 313 points with a ROI of 10% in the regular season.

A sample of a game write-up for this week is produced below.

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NFL Week One

Chicago Bears at Carolina Panthers Sunday 6pm

The Bears profile as a potential offensive juggernaut and a “swinging-gate” defense. A potential “shoot-out” team.

Chicago improved its scoring by 7.5 points per game in 2025, finishing at 25.7 points per game in Ben Johnson’s first season. They’re projected for 24.5 points per game in 2026, 10th in the NFL. This is an offense we want exposure to.

In the off-season ahead of his second year as Head Coach Ben Johnson was quoted in an interview as having an ambition to have “the highest scoring offense ever!” (2013 Broncos, 37.9 points a game) which he followed with “I want shutouts. I want blowouts”. This might be an aggressive offense then! The Bears offense ran the most plays in the NFL last season and were top 5 in pace per play.

In Johnson’s first season the Bears had the third ranked rush offense, tenth ranked passing offense and sixth overall.

Considering their hosts here are Panthers with a potentially lacklustre offense the game points quote was higher than I expected at 47.5. The Bears are 2.5-point road favourites.

Let’s do the Panthers offense first. The match-up with last year’s 27^th ranked rush defense looks appetising, however the Panthers Head Coach has already stated that the Panthers running backs (Hubbard and Brooks) will operate in a 50-50% time share once both are fully fit, mirroring their approach with Hubbard and Dowdle last year. My chances of picking the right one are someone less than 50-50!

I’m taking a watching brief on the Panthers passing offense, ranked 26^th last season though again the match-up is good, the Bears pass defense ranked 20^th last season and brings back 10 of 11 starters.

Turning to the other side of the ball the obvious place to look is that Bears rushing offense.

Last season D’Andre Swift had a career high 223 carries for 1087 yards and 9 touchdowns, spelled by rookie Kyle Monangai, who has missed training camp with an injury and might not be fully involved here. Against a run defense that ranked 21^st last season Swift should be one of the bankers of the week.

There is a Swift alternative too. With DJ Moore leaving behind 85 targets having left for the Bills, Swift’s receiving yards quote is over/under 13.5 receiving yards. Caleb Williams targeted his running backs 79 times in 2025 at 4.1 targets per game. Panthers allowed 4.4 receptions per game and 28.7 receiving yards to running backs. Swift averaged 17.6 receiving yards per game in 2025.

In the passing game (against a 2025 14^th ranked Carolina pass defense) there are multiple options. First things first the Bears drafted a Tight End Sam Roush in the third round of the most recent draft and potentially can play more 1-2 and 1-3 formations this season.

Their leading Tight End Colston Loveland runs routes like a wide receiver and is an obvious anytime touchdown scorer proposition going into this his second season.

For the leading wide receivers we need to consider Odunze and Burden but bear in mind that the Bears might be using more formations where fewer wide receivers are on the field.

Odunze might miss this game, he’s been missing practices with an undisclosed injury. opened the 2025 season with a bang, scoring five touchdowns in his first four games and then went on to deliver one touchdown over his next eight games prior to missing Weeks 14 through 18 due to injury. On the plus side, Odunze remained heavily targeted throughout the season, especially near the goal line, and he is ninth in the NFL with 24 end zone targets since he was drafted. On the other hand, his connection with Caleb Williams needs work, as his 48% catch rate ranked near the basement at the position.

Burden led the Bears in explosive plays last year as a part-time player. He averaged 96 yards game when he had just a 25% first read target rate and his role is about to expand, and I think he is the more interesting of the two starting receivers and likely to be the focal point of the passing offense.

10 points Colston Loveland anytime touchdown scorer at 9/5 Betfred, 17/10 William Hill, 8/5 Bet365

From paradox to winner

For 18 IPL seasons, Royal Challengers Bengaluru were cricket's ultimate paradox.

They had Virat Kohli, A B de Villiers and Chris Gayle but their trophy cabinet was bare.

They have since won two IPL trophies in two years.

The foundations of this success were laid long before the 2025 win when RCB started building a system.

The arrival of Mo Bobat as Director of Cricket and Andy Flower as Head Coach transformed the franchise from a collection of stars into a coherent cricketing organisation. For years, RCB's auction strategy appeared reactive and emotional. But this duo's approach is 'consider the larger picture'. The 2025 mega auction became the defining moment. While rival teams splurged heavily on marquee names, RCB focused on balance: Josh Hazlewood, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Krunal Pandya, Jacob Duffy, Rasikh Salam Dar.

RCB's reputation as a dysfunctional, superstar-driven franchise prone to emotional decision-making has completely transformed.

The 2026 title was built on bowling.

In the final, Gujarat Titans never recovered after being restricted to 155 for 8. Rasikh Salam Dar produced figures of 3 for 27. Bhuvneshwar Kumar chipped in with 2 for 29. Josh Hazlewood claimed 2 for 37. Krunal Pandya squeezed the middle overs.

Hazlewood, Bhuvneshwar and Duffy brought experience. Rasikh brought youthful energy. Krunal delivered control. Every role clearly defined. That clarity separated RCB from the rest of the competition.

For much of the previous decade, if Kohli failed, RCB often struggled. Today, they possess multiple match-winners in Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Krunal, Jitesh Sharma, Phil Salt, Venkatesh Iyer.

Kohli still topped RCB's scoring charts with 675 runs, but he did so as part of a functioning collective rather than carrying the team on his shoulders.

Captaining a franchise with Kohli's stature in the dressing room is no easy task. Yet Rajat Patidar has managed the transition impressively. His leadership has been understated but effective. RCB's tactical clarity, consistency in selection and calmness under pressure reflect strong leadership.

The franchise has won 28 of its last 38 completed matches. Perhaps the most overlooked factor behind RCB's success has been selection consistency. Unlike many franchises, RCB resisted the temptation to constantly shuffle personnel. They used only 16 players throughout the tournament.

The obvious question now is whether RCB can become the first IPL team to win three consecutive titles. History is proof that dominance in the IPL is temporary. The Mumbai Indians looked invincible after winning five titles. Chennai Super Kings have repeatedly rebuilt successful teams but they languish at the bottom of the table. The auction system exists specifically to prevent dynasties in a league whose rules are specifically designed to ensure competitive balance. Injuries happen. Form fluctuates. Rivals improve.

Yet this is a franchise with structure and clarity. A franchise that has won 22 of 31 matches across two title-winning seasons. A franchise with a world-class management group that has a chance to be the IPL’s next great team.

Betting Emporium results

A £4000 bank (see FAQ re bank-roll requirements) betting £10 a point on all selections would now be worth £69,244.70 a 1631% increase 

The Road to Riches Weekend of 5th-6th September

Coming up this weekend

• Horse Racing, Over the jumps at Ascot, Haydock and Thirsk, over the jumps as Stratford and on the all-weather at Kempton and Newcastle.
• Football, Premier League fixtures include Arsenal v Chelsea
• Cricket, England v Pakistan test at Edgbaston next week
• Formula One, the Italian Grand Prix
• Golf, the Biltmore Championship on the USPGA Tour and the Irish Open on the DP World Tour.
• Tennis, the US Open continues

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NFL 2026 

2026 Regular season package now available for £125 here 

Last year the package won 313 points with a ROI of 10% in the regular season.

Published last week: Ante-Post Player markets. 10+ bets including recommendations at 16/1,33/1 and 50/1

First week one write-up, Patriots at Seahawks out Tuesday

Free Tip

South Africa v New Zealand Third Test, Johannesburg, Saturday 4.10pm

With the series now tied  at 1-1 the four-test “Greatest Rivalry” Series now moves to Soccer city, Soweto after South Africa’s 33-26 win in Cape Town last weekend.

For all the South African team selection shenanigans last week, with a team named on Monday, two changes on Friday with Pollard out and Kolbe in then changing the entire front row an hour before kick-off (in all 5 changes from the original team named at the beginning of the week) perhaps the biggest difference between the two Tests were the bench selections notably the introduction of Malcolm Marx and Ox Nche before half-time as the duo combined with Du Toit to earn the first penalty at scrum time in the game. They re-packed the set-piece, gained dominance and an advantage which ultimately led to Kolisi’s try.

South Africa were leading 24-14 at Half-Time and then 30-14 with 20 minutes to go only for two late New Zealand tries to take them within the +7.5-point spread at the start of the game. New Zealand scored more tries than South Africa for a second game in a row, four, but struggled against the rush defense, in the breakdowns and the lineouts.

This series is a real clash of styles. South Africa are strong attacking between the 15 metre lines and New Zealand are searching for the space outside.

After being ruthless in attack in Johannesburg, New Zealand were far more wasteful in Cape Town, averaging 2.8 points per entry into South Africa’s 22 down from 3.6 points per entry the week before.

All three of South Africa’s tries followed a similar theme: dominance in the set-piece: the first two being the lineout and maul, whilst the third was in the scrum.

It was the lineouts where the All Blacks malfunctioned at critical moments. Three attacking throw-ins by the All Blacks were spoiled by Eben Etzebeth, who made one steal. South Africa’s first two tries were platformed by lineout mauls.

New Zealand also needs to deal more effectively with the South Africa kicking game and the ball in the air in generally.

Faced again this weekend with this clash of styles South Africa are priced up again at -7.5. It’s expected to be a dry day, which helps New Zealand. Deciding which side of the quote to recommend depends on two things. Can New Zealand manage South Africa’s power to restrict their points from a set piece platform and can they be more clinical, as in the first test, when they stretch South Africa wide.

“We lost the battlebut we have not lost the war,” All Blacks captain Ardie Savea said immediately after last week’s game. I tend to agree.

10 points New Zealand +7.5-points at 10/11 generally  

Where next for the England rugby team?

After England’s heavy defeat against South Africa in the first round of the new Nations Championship they had lost five consecutive Tests. Fiji and Argentina

This poor run comes four years and 46 Tests after Steve Borthwick was appointed as the stability candidate, replacing Eddie Jones, as Head Coach, and in the last year there is frustration that Borthwick’s vision has not been realised. England have lurched from a kick-heavy game plan to one on moving the ball wide, often at the tail end of strategies from other teams during the same. There is a clear view that he looks at data and reacts, and doesn’t create his own innovations, a clear echo of South Africa coach Rassie Erasmus’ summation that Borthwick “chases trends”.

 Many watchers contrast watching the Gallagher Prem (particularly the Northampton Saints) with England. It’s as in England training camp that the players are told to leave their creativity behind with game plans that restrict flair.

On a long term perspective this dysfunctionality and disappointment has come as a surprise. Borthwick is clearly a talented coach,his work as an assistant with England and the British & Irish Lions, and his Prem title win with Leicester Tigers suggested as much when he was appointed. Borthwick can take credit credit for appointing Lee Blackett and Kevin Sinfield to make up for his own lack of charisma, but three issues return time and again.

Firstly, the rapid departures of Felix Jones and Aled Walters. The concern being that world-class coaches had to leave because they felt stifled. Many want the RFU to appoint Shaun Edwards, now he has left France, at least for “positive PR”.

Secondly, and this is a problem that goes beyond Borthwick, many are desperate to see Jack Willis, and his brother Tom, in an England shirt, and want the RFU to change its eligibility criteria. Jack I n particular is probably the pre-eminent loose forward in the Northern Hemisphere, now Toulouse captain, and would walk into the team if he didn’t play abroad.

Thirdly there is a clear lack of depth at key positions notably 1-2-3,12 and 13 and 15 that saw England take the field in Johannesburg with a Lilliputian back three of Smith, Murley and Feyi-Waboso with Steward, Furbank injured and Freeman pushed inside. No wonder they were comprehensively beaten in the aerial game.

Commentators do not believe Borthwick knows his best team, but are happy that he has handed debuts to young players like Henry Pollock, Fin Smith and Guy Pepper but the English pathway and club-country Professional Game Partnership seems deficient.

We’ve got a favourable World Cup draw in 20276 but the fear is that it will be wasted with this squad and coach, and it could well be that the RFU pulls the pin on Borthwick with a year to go

Betting Emporium results

The Road to Riches Weekend of 29th-30th August

Coming up this weekend

• Horse Racing, Over the jumps at Beverley, Carlisle, Haydock, Leicester, Nottingham and Sandown.
• Football, Premier League fixtures include Aston Villa v Arsenal
• Rugby Union, South Africa v New Zealand in Cape Town  
• Golf, the European Masters on the DP World Tour.
• Tennis,  the US Open.

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NFL 2026 

2026 Regular season package now available for £125 here 

Last year the package won 313 points with a ROI of 10% in the regular season. Published on Friday: Ante-Post Player markets. 10+ bets including recommendations at 16/1,33/1 and 50/1

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Free Tip

South Africa v New Zealand Rugby Second Test, Cape Town 4.10pm Saturday

At 13-12 at half-time in Johannesburg last weekend predictions of a tight contest looked correct. Against all expectations New Zealand then won the second half 21-3 to win the match 33-16 scoring five tries to one and give South Africa their first home defeat since 2005. 

Winning in South Africa is one thing, but winning with a relatively new setup makes this doubly impressive and of course it sets up the remainder of this four-test series nicely.

It was a victory achieved despite South Africa’s huge set piece domination. During the second and third Quarters it was carnage at scrum-time, though it stabilised late on.

However, New Zealand offered constant threat out-wide and were competitive at the breakdown. South Africa meanwhile had a series of handling errors and lacked any cohesion in attack. For all their domination up front, they didn’t do much with their front foot ball.

South Africa had 13 entries into the New Zealand 22 and scored just 0.9 points per entry. New Zealand had 9 entries and had 3.6 points per entry which represented a huge different in strike-power.

South Africa looked rusty, they conceded 23 turnovers, their second most ever in a match.

The series now moves from altitude in Johannesburg to sea level in Cape Town. Despite last weekend’s result the handicap quote is unmoved at South Africa -7.5 points. Last week’s line moved slightly through the week and New Zealkand went off +6.5 and won by 17 points.

I do expect South Africa to be a lot better and make a conscious effort to use their set-piece advantage to stretch New Zealand in defence something they didn’t do at all last week where brute force alone wasn’t enough due to New Zealand’s ability to convert their attacking chances.

They’ve made 4 changes, with Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu dropped at 10 replaced by Pollard potentially the most significant, opting for experience to minimise mistakes. Kolbe at 14 and Grant Williams at 9 are out through injury.

I expect South Africa to rebound and win, potentially convincingly.

10 points South Africa -7.5 points at 10/11 generally   

IPL Changes?

The IPL governing body the BCCI is considering a two-split window and also moving one of the phases to September-October looking to increase the number of IPL matches from the current 74 to 94 to allow the teams to play against each other twice which hasn’t happened since 2022.

Since then teams have been playing twice against five teams and once against the other four after being divided into two virtual groups. The IPL is considering beginning its expansion from 2028.

However there are conflicting reports that instead administrative focus has shifted entirely toward countering unpredictable weather and extreme climate challenges protecting players and fans from intense summer conditions. The late-May stretch of the 2026 season proved difficult, with various host cities dealing with blistering heatwaves, while other venues faced disruptive pre-monsoon showers.

In practice this will mean exploring ways to bring IPL forward by 15 days with the opening match closer to mid-March and an ultimate goal to wrap up the entire competition by mid-May.

For English cricket this comes against a backdrop of what Mike Atherton called the ECB’s “complete subservience” to India where “self-preservation is a natural mode for players”. For example Jofra Archer’s two-month IPL contract is worth more than his 12-month ECB one.

It wasn’t today’s players who devised ECB central contracts and then decided they would be enforced for only nine months a year. It wasn’t the players who built an ecology in which India generates an estimated 80% of the game’s global revenues or sells the IPL TV and streaming rights for $6.2bn but with the IPL having plans to a) move and b) potentially expand its season, reach and wealth the prospect of multi-format star players missing England Test/s as happened this year with Archer is a taste of where this might be heading.

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Betting Emporium results

The detailed results page was updated on 1^st July 2026. They can be found by clicking RESULTS

If you bet £10 per point on every recommended bet since launch you would be winning + £81,889. All bets have an ROI +2.86%

A £4000 bank (see FAQ re bank-roll requirements) betting £10 a point on all selections would now be worth £85,889 a 2047% increase 

 

The Road to Riches Weekend of 22nd-23rd August

Coming up this weekend

• Horse Racing, Over the jumps at Chester, Lingfield, Newmarket, Redcar and York and over the jumps at Newton Abbot.
• Football, the start of the new Premier League season including Newcastle United v Liverpool
• Formula One, the Dutch Grand Prix
• Rugby Union, South Africa play New Zealand “Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry Game 1” in Johannesburg.
• Cricket, the second test between England and Pakistan at Lords next week.
• Golf, the Tour Championship on the USPGA Tour and the British Masters on the DP World Tour.
• Tennis, ATP Winston-Salem Open and US Open Qualification​

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NFL 2026 

2026 Regular season package now available for £125 here 

Last year the package won 313 points with a ROI of 10% in the regular season. Published on Friday: Ante-Post team markets.

Free Tip

Rugby Union: South Africa v New Zealand First Test, Johannesburg Saturday 4.10pm.

The 2026 New Zealand rugby union tour of South Africa is branded “Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry” and runs until 12 September and features eight matches, including four Tests against the Springboks including this game at Ellis Park then DHL Stadium, FNB Stadium, and a final neutral‑venue Test in Baltimore. The tour revives a traditional long-form bilateral tour that was common before the professional era and the establishment of SANZAR’s Tri Nations (now Rugby Championship).

This much anticipated series sees the world’s two top ranked sides meet, and World Champions South Africa have won 12 tests in a row coming into this series.

Meanwhile David Rennie was appointed as New Zealand’s new coach in March on a contract through to the 2027 World Cup replacing Scott Robertson, who was sacked in January after two years in the job following high-profile losses to South Africa, Argentina and England as well as reports of tension between senior players and All Blacks staff.

In the recent Southern Hemisphere component of the 2026 Nations championship both teams won 3 out of 3 games at home against Northern Hemisphere opponents. South Africa warmed up for the series with a 17-10 win in Argentina whilst the All Blacks have won all three warm-up games against South African franchises.

South Africa have huge strength in depth and captain Siya Kolisi was was among a core group of Springbok stalwarts given match time in Buenos Aires after missing the Nations Championship in July because of injuries. Sadly Kolisi injured his hamstring in that game. Caps record-holder Eben Etzebeth and fly-half Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu played every minute and lock Lood de Jager, coming back from a hip injury, lasted until the third quarter of that game.

New Zealand under Rennie have been a work in progress with errors under pressure and new combinations in play. In the Nations Championship they conceded nine tries to France, Italy and Ireland. More positively there was a clear resolve to always play with ball in hand and a high tempo of play. They scored 18 tries in those three games.

To beat the Springboks this weekend New Zealand will need to have attacking opportunism with sufficient set-piece solidity and sheer grunt to resist up front and in defence. There are signs that they can land enough punches for the Test matches to be back-and-forth blockbusters. Something close to parity up front would give New Zealand a chance in each game.

A clue to the All Blacks strategy can be seen on the bench where the All Blacks have selected two back row forwards and no lock in a five-three split. This potentially gives them speed for late in the game but leaves them vulnerable if they are under pressure at the set-piece 

Prices for the game have South Africa -7.5 on the handicap. I expect them to win but consider the value New Zealand w.ith the points, hoping they’ll land enough blows with their back-line attacking ability to score enough points to keep it close.

10 points New Zealand +7.5 points at 10/11 generally

Challengers

The PGA Tour has announced its plan to split into two tiers, with expanded fields and guaranteed pots of at least $20m for the new “Championship Series” and prize money cut in half for the new lower “Challenger Series”.

In a significant shake-up to the structure of golf’s most prestigious tour, which is due to take effect in 2028, the top tier will feature about 15 tournaments, with the second tier containing roughly 20. There will be about 130 players in the Championship Series, with at least 20 relegated at the end of the season and replaced by the best performers in the Challenger Series.

The PGA Tour boards approved the recommendations from the Future Competition Committee, which has been working on a new plan since it was formed last August. 

In the new structure, the PGA Tour season will be shorter: approximately February until August, with some scheduled weeks off. The $20m signature events for 72 players will be expanded to 120 players on average. They will not have sponsor invitations or an alternate list and there will be a 36-hole cut.

The Challenger Series will be a path for players to earn their way to the top level. Those fields will be about 144 players, with purses of at least $4m. This year all but three regular non-signature events had prize funds of at least $9m.

Each series will have separate points standings and there is no plan for players to move up to the Championship Series during the season unless they win twice.

The Championship Series eligibility will be determined by the top 90 players from the previous year, the top 20 players from the Challenger Series and other exemption categories for tournament winners, injuries or career milestones.

The other big change is the “introduction of match play” in the post-season and a Tour Championship that will move around prestigious courses instead of returning to East Lake in Atlanta each year, as it has done since 2004.

 

Betting Emporium results

 

The Road to Riches Weekend of 15th-16th August

 

Coming up this weekend

• Horse Racing, Over the jumps at Goodwood, Hamilton, Lingfield, Newmarket and Thirsk.
• Football, the Community Shield between Arsenal and Manchester City
• Cricket, the first Test match between England and Pakistan at Headingley next week and the Hundred final on Sunday
• Golf, the BMW Championship on the USPGA Tour and Nexo Championship on the DP World Tour.
• Tennis, ATP Cincinnati Open continues

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York Ebor Festival

Full Package (19th - 22nd Aug). After successful Royal Ascot and Glorious Goodwood weeks, get all of Neil’s write ups and bets for £125 here

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NFL 2026 

2026 Regular season package now available for £125 here 

Last year the package won 313 points with a ROI of 10% in the regular season. Published on Friday: What to expect from this column this season

Free Tip

The Hundred Eliminator: Manchester Super Giants v Sunrisers Leeds Friday 6pm

The Hundred Eliminator at The Oval where the second and third placed teams from the round-robin leagfue play, the winner meets the winner of the league, the Trent Rockets, in the final at Lords on Sunday.

These two teams played on Tuesday and the very successful Sunrisers Leeds batting line-up failed, dismissed for 127, a total which was chased down with no wickets lost in 67 balls. Four days later they meet at a neutral venue in a semi-final.

Through this tournament Sunrisers Leeds have been the most prolific batting team. Marsh opening the batting is the Hundred’s top run scorer and he, Brook and Lawrence are top of the strike rates.

Their eight games included batting scores of 186,187, 201 and a tournament record 241.

For Sunrisers here are the batting stats:

Marsh 8 innings, 406 runs, average of 50, strike rate of 169.

Marsh has top scored in 5 of the 8 innings, including the last two games. 11/4 in the top batsman market seems more than fair.

Rickelton: 8-291-41-176

Brook: 8-206-29-187

Manchester Super Giants meanwhile have only scored over 180 twice in their 8 games

Their run-making is more concentrated:

Buttler 7 innings, 278 runs at an average of 69 and a strike rate of 174

Tim Seifert 8-322-53-165 including a 40-ball 80 including seven sixes against Sunrisers Leeds on Tuesday. As stated in previous reports, the most boom-bust batsman in the competition, he’ll thrash from the start and either comes off or doesn’t!

Aside from the “big two” the top run scorers are Walter 145 and Klaasen 103 (Walter came in when Markram withdrew from the competition a few matches ago).

In this market it’s Buttler 5/2 Seifert 16/5.

What Manchester probably have over Leeds is more depth in the bowling line up.

They have four bowlers who have taken 5+ wickets (38 total) with Atkinson 11 and Tongue 10 leading the way. Leeds have three players with 5+ (27 total) with Carse 11 and Ellis 10 leading. Probably correctly given this, despite Sunrisers Leeds batting firepower, the Super Giants are odds-on favourites for the game.

10 points Mitch Marsh Top Sunrisers Leeds batsman at 11/4 Betfred, 27/10 William Hill, 13/5 Star Sports, 12/5 Bet365

Fallow

The 2027 World Test Championship final will be played at the Oval amid concerns over the quality of the Lords pitch.

England will host the showpiece final for the fourth time next year. Lords hosted it in 2025, when South Africa beat Australia, and had been expected to become its regular venue.

The International Cricket Council has awarded England hosting rights for the next three finals until 2031, and has specified that it wants the match to be hosted in London. There have been three previous finals: at Southampton’s Utilita Bowl in 2021,at the Oval in 2023 and then at Lord’s in 2025.

In June Lords hosted the first Test between England and New Zealand. While the game reached day four because of rain, the Test lasted just 166 overs, which is less than two full days’ play. There was variable bounce and 24 of the 40 dismissals were bowled or LBW.

The match referee officially rated the pitch “unsatisfactory”, which meant Lord’s received its first demerit point under the ICC’s grading system.  The MCC chairman, described the pitch as “substandard”. 

The MCC Cricket Strategy, launched earlier this year, introduced a number of initiatives to alleviate the pressure on the square, including moving fixtures to Wormsley and developing drop-in pitches that could be used in international cricket by 2029.

With the WTC final moved to the Oval, Lord’s would still host two Tests next summer, as per the staging agreement with the ECB. It could take an early-summer one-off Test. This match, possibly against Pakistan, had been slated for Old Trafford, which does not have an Ashes Test. However, ECB sources have indicated that Manchester is interested in taking a “fallow payment” from the governing body, rather than hosting the match. A fallow payment is a one-off fee paid to Test grounds which do not host a men’s Test in a certain season.