New Zealand advances to the final of the World Test Cricket Championship
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 played in June 2021 at Lord’s. New Zealand was on the verge of reaching the top spot in the Test rankings: it is only 0.086 points behind Australia, after their victory in Wellington. However, there was some confusion after the match. The ICC’s prediction tool showed New Zealand at the top for several hours, but this turned out to be an error. The ICC clarified in a tweet that Australia is in first place with 116.461 rating points, while New Zealand has 116.375. Australia will look to consolidate their lead in the home series against India. Two wins 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 mean that India will need 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 due to the cancellation of some series, the ICC had to change the criteria for ranking 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 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 its two Test matches against Pakistan, it will finish with 84 points per series played or 70% of the points played.By the time India, which currently has 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 give them 10 points. Five victories or four victories and three draws will put them ahead of 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.
