India vs Australia: Equations for the Cricket World Cup Final

Australia vs India: Keys to World Test Championship Qualification

The clash between Australia and India is a highlight in the world of cricket, and this series holds even greater significance due to the proximity of the World Test Championship final in June. Both teams have a lot at stake in terms of their position in the overall standings. New Zealand’s 2-0 victory against the West Indies has propelled them to third place in the championship table. If they achieve the same result against Pakistan later in the season, both Australia and India will have to work hard to stay above them.

India: Rating Outlook

India has played 4 series, accumulating 360 points and a points percentage of 75%. India has two series remaining in the current cycle: against Australia and England. Both are four-test series, which means the points allocation is the same: 30 points for a win and 10 for a draw. If New Zealand gets the maximum points from their series against Pakistan, their total will rise to 420 and their points percentage to 70%. This means that India needs to exceed 70% to stay ahead of New Zealand.

To achieve this, India needs at least 150 points out of the 240 available in these two series. This can happen in two ways: if India wins five matches or if it wins four (120) and draws three (30).

Given India’s exceptional home record, they will have a good chance of getting the maximum points against England. This means they will need at least one win or three draws in the four tests in Australia to reach the target of 150 points.

For example, if India loses against Australia by a margin of 1-2, they will need 110 points from the series against England. Since a win awards 30 points and a draw 10, the only way to reach 110 is by winning all four matches.

Australia: Current Situation

Australia has played 3 series, accumulating 296 points and a points percentage of 82.22%. Australia needs to surpass 420 points to have a points percentage above 70%, if the series against South Africa takes place. If that series is canceled, their goal will be to exceed 336 points. Given that the series against South Africa is expected to be three tests, there will be 40 points at stake for a win and 13 for a draw.

Despite numerous injury concerns, Australia remains in a strong position, thanks to accumulated points. If the series against India ends 2-2, Australia will have 356 points and a percentage of 74.17%. From there, even a 1-0 series against South Africa will propel them to 422 points, surpassing New Zealand’s reach. If they lose 1-2 against India, Australia will need a 2-0 victory against South Africa to stay above 70%.