New Zealand Advances to the Final of the World Test Cricket Championship
New Zealand’s recent victory over the West Indies puts them in a favorable position to compete for the final of the World Test Cricket Championship (WTC), which will be held in June 2021 at Lord’s. New Zealand came close to reaching the top spot in the Test Cricket ranking, being only 0.086 points behind Australia, after their victory in Wellington. The excitement was present, as the ICC’s prediction tool showed New Zealand at the top for several hours after the match, generating some confusion in the cricket community. However, the ICC clarified in a tweet that Australia remains in first place with 116.461 rating points, while New Zealand has 116.375. Australia will look to consolidate their lead in the home series against India. For their part, New Zealand’s two victories over the West Indies gave them 300 WTC points from four series in the current cycle, which ends on March 31, 2021. If they repeat the 2-0 result against Pakistan, they will add 420 points from five series. This will leave India needing to secure five wins, or four wins and three draws, in their last eight Test matches (away against Australia and at home against England) to prevent New Zealand from reaching the WTC final at Lord’s. Due to the current situation, the ICC had to adjust the classification criteria, moving from absolute points to a percentage of points played, i.e., points per series played.Currently, Australia leads the WTC table with 82.2% of the points won. If they manage a 2-2 draw against India, they will maintain the lead with a percentage of 74.17%, but if they lose 1-2, their percentage will fall to 70%.
If New Zealand wins both matches against Pakistan, it will finish with 84 points per series played, or 70% of the points played. When India finishes its series against Australia and England, it will have played six series, or 720 points. They will need to surpass 504 points to exceed New Zealand’s score of 84 points per series, or 70% of the points played. Each remaining victory for India in the Tests will be worth 30 points, and draws will earn them 10 points. Five victories or four victories and three draws will put them ahead of New Zealand. As for the rankings, depending on how the India vs. Australia and New Zealand vs. Pakistan series unfold, Australia could consolidate its lead or cede ground to New Zealand.
