New Zealand advances to the final of the World Test Cricket Championship
The recent victory of New Zealand over the West Indies gives them a great chance of reaching the final of the World Test Cricket Championship (WTC), scheduled for June 2021 at Lord’s.
New Zealand was on the verge of reaching the top spot in the Test rankings, finishing just 0.086 points behind Australia, after their victory in Wellington.
The situation generated some confusion, as the ICC’s prediction tool initially showed New Zealand at the top. However, the ICC clarified that Australia maintains the first place with 116.461 rating points, while New Zealand has 116.375.
Australia could consolidate its leadership if it wins the home series against India. For its part, the two victories over the West Indies gave New Zealand 300 WTC points, obtained in four series of the current cycle, which ends on March 31, 2021.
If New Zealand repeats the 2-0 result against Pakistan, they will add 420 points in five series.
This would force India to get five wins, or four wins and three draws, in their last eight Test matches to prevent New Zealand from reaching the WTC final at Lord’s.
Due to the pandemic, the ICC modified the classification criteria, moving from absolute points to a percentage of points played, that is, points per series played.
Currently, Australia leads the WTC table with 82.2% of the points won. If they draw 2-2 against India, they will maintain the lead with 74.17%, but if they lose 1-2, their percentage will fall to 70%. Australia also has a three-match Test series scheduled in South Africa.
If New Zealand wins both matches against Pakistan, it will finish with 84 points per series played, or 70% of the points played.
India, with 360 points in four series, must surpass 504 points at the end of its series against Australia and England to surpass New Zealand, which would reach 84 points per series or 70% of the points played. Each remaining victory for India will be worth 30 points, while draws will award 10 points.
Depending on the results of the India vs. Australia and New Zealand vs. Pakistan series, Australia could extend its lead in first place or concede ground to New Zealand.
