New Zealand close to the World Test Championship final
The recent victory of New Zealand over the West Indies positions them favorably to reach the final of the World Test Cricket Championship (WTC), which will be held at Lord’s in June 2021.
New Zealand was on the verge of reaching the top spot in the Test rankings, finishing just 0.086 points behind Australia. This followed their victory in Wellington.
Match Results
After the match, the ICC’s prediction tool showed New Zealand at the top, generating some confusion. However, the ICC clarified that Australia is currently number 1 with 116.461 points, while New Zealand has 116.375.
Australia could consolidate its leadership if it wins the home series against India. For its 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, it will finish with 420 points from five series.
This would leave India needing five wins, or four wins and three draws, from their last eight matches (away against Australia and at home against England) to deny New Zealand a place in the WTC final.
Due to the pandemic, the ICC had to modify the classification criteria, moving from absolute points to a percentage of points disputed, that is, 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 still lead with a percentage of 74.17%, but if they lose 1-2, their percentage will drop to 70%.
If New Zealand wins its two matches against Pakistan, it will finish with 84 points per series played or 70% of the points played.
When India 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 be worth 30 points, and draws will earn them 10 points. Five wins or four wins and three draws will put them ahead of New Zealand.
Regarding the ranking, depending on how the India vs. Australia and New Zealand vs. Pakistan series turn out, Australia could extend its lead at number 1 or concede ground to New Zealand.
