New Zealand close to the World Test Championship final
After sweeping the series against the West Indies, New Zealand is favorably positioned to reach the final of the World Test Cricket Championship (WTC), which will be held at Lord’s in June 2021. New Zealand was a step away from reaching the top spot in the Test ranking, just 0.086 points behind Australia. This happened after their victory in Wellington. The excitement was not absent. For hours after the match, the ICC’s prediction tool showed New Zealand at the top, generating confusion. However, the ICC clarified in a tweet that Australia held first place with 116.461 rating points, while New Zealand had 116.375. The prediction tool subsequently reflected this ranking. Australia could consolidate its lead if it wins the home series against India. The two victories over the West Indies gave New Zealand 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 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. 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, or, in other words, 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 still lead with a percentage of 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 Tests against Pakistan, it will finish with 84 points per series played or 70% of the points contested.By the time 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 beat New Zealand’s score of 84 points per series or 70% of the points played. Each of their remaining Test victories will now be worth 30 points, and draws will give them 10 points. Five victories or four victories and three draws will leave them ahead of New Zealand.
As for 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.
