New Zealand close to the World Test Championship final
New Zealand’s recent victory over the West Indies has positioned them favorably to aspire to the final of the World Test Cricket Championship (WTC), which will be held in June 2021 at Lord’s. New Zealand was a step away from reaching the top spot in the Test ranking, being only 0.086 points behind Australia. The innings victory in Wellington on Monday boosted their aspirations. However, the news was accompanied by some confusion. For several hours after the match, the ICC’s prediction tool showed New Zealand at the top of the table, which generated uncertainty in the cricket community. This error was later corrected, and the ICC clarified in a tweet that Australia occupied first place with 116.461 ranking points, while New Zealand had 116.375. Australia could consolidate its lead if it wins the home series against India. On the other hand, the 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 New Zealand repeats the 2-0 result against Pakistan later in their summer, they will finish with 420 points from five series.
This will leave India needing 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 to be played at Lord’s in the English summer. 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 criteria for absolute point classification 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 the table 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. When 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 wins or four wins and three draws will leave them ahead of New Zealand. As for the rankings, depending on how the India vs. Australia series and the New Zealand vs. Pakistan series unfold, Australia could increase its lead at number 1 or cede ground to New Zealand.
