New Zealand advances to the final of the World Test Cricket Championship
The recent victory of New Zealand over the West Indies has positioned them favorably to reach the final of the World Test Cricket Championship (WTC), which will be held in June 2021 at Lord’s. New Zealand finished the series one step away from the top spot in the test ranking, placing only 0.086 points behind Australia. This came after their innings victory in Wellington.Following the match, the ICC’s predictor tool initially placed New Zealand at the top, generating some confusion. However, the ICC clarified that Australia holds the first place with 116.461 ranking 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, 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 Test matches (away against Australia and at home against England) to prevent New Zealand from reaching the WTC final at Lord’s. In a scenario without a pandemic, New Zealand would also have had to earn points in a series in Bangladesh. Due to the impossibility of playing some series, the ICC modified the qualification criteria, moving from absolute points to a percentage of points 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%.
New Zealand, if they win both test matches against Pakistan, will finish with 84 points per series played or 70% of the points contested.When India completes its series against Australia and England, they 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 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.
Regarding the rankings, depending on how the India vs. Australia and New Zealand vs. Pakistan series unfold, Australia could increase its lead in the number 1 position or concede ground to New Zealand.
