New Zealand close to the World Test Championship final
After sweeping the series against the West Indies, New Zealand is positioned to reach the final of the World Test Cricket Championship (WTC), which will be played in June 2021 at Lord’s. New Zealand came very close to first place in the test ranking: only 0.086 points behind Australia, after their victory by innings in Wellington on Monday. However, the news was accompanied by an element of uncertainty. For several hours after the match, the ICC’s prediction tool showed New Zealand at the top of the table, which caused some confusion. The ICC clarified in a tweet that Australia is in first place with 116.461 rating points, while New Zealand has 116.375. Subsequently, the predictor reflected this ranking. Australia could extend that slight advantage if they win the series at home against India. Two wins over the West Indies took New Zealand to 300 WTC points from four series in the current WTC cycle, which ends on March 31, 2021. If they repeat the 2-0 result against Pakistan later in their summer, they will finish with 420 points from five series. This will leave India needing five wins, or four wins and three draws, from their last eight Test matches (away against Australia and at home against England) to deny New Zealand a place in the WTC final to be played at Lord’s in the English summer. In a world without a pandemic, New Zealand would also have had to earn points in a series in Bangladesh, but because some series could not be played, the ICC had to change the criteria for absolute point classification to a percentage of points played. In other words, points per series played. Australia currently tops the WTC table, with 82.2% of points won. If they manage a 2-2 draw against India, they will still lead the table with a percentage of 74.17%, but if they lose 1-2, their percentage will fall to 70. Australia also has a three-test series scheduled in South Africa. If New Zealand wins its two test matches against Pakistan, it will finish with 84 points per series played or 70% of the points contested.When India, currently with 360 points from four series played, 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 of their remaining wins in the tests will now be worth 30 points, and draws will give them 10 points. Five wins or four wins and three draws will give them an advantage over New Zealand.
Regarding the rankings, depending on how the India vs. Australia series and the New Zealand vs. Pakistan series go, Australia could extend its lead at number 1 or concede ground to New Zealand.
