New Zealand advances to the final of the World Test Cricket Championship
The recent victory of New Zealand over the West Indies has boosted their chances of reaching 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: it is only 0.086 points behind Australia. This, after their victory in Wellington. However, there was some confusion at the end of the match, as the ICC’s prediction tool showed New Zealand at the top of the table for several hours. The ICC clarified in a tweet that Australia is in first place with 116.461 rating points, while New Zealand has 116.375. Australia could consolidate its lead if it wins 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 New Zealand repeats the 2-0 result against Pakistan later, they will finish with 420 points from five series. This will leave India needing five wins, or four wins and three draws, in their last eight Tests (away against Australia and at home against England) to deny New Zealand a place in the WTC final at Lord’s. 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 qualification criteria from absolute points to a percentage of points played. In other words, points per series played. Australia currently leads the WTC table, with 82.2% of the points won. If they manage a 2-2 draw against India, they will continue to 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 series of three Tests scheduled in South Africa. If New Zealand wins its two Tests against Pakistan, they will finish with 84 points per series played, or 70% of the points at stake.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 Test victories will now 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 increase its lead at number 1 or cede ground to New Zealand.
