New Zealand Advances to the Final of the World Test Cricket Championship
New Zealand’s recent victory over the West Indies puts them in a favorable position to reach the final of the World Test Cricket Championship (WTC), which will be held 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. This situation arose after their innings victory in Wellington on Monday. However, the news was accompanied by some confusion. For several hours after the match, the ICC’s predictor tool showed New Zealand at the top of the table, which raised doubts in the cricket community. The ICC clarified in a tweet that Australia is in first place with 116.461 rating points, while New Zealand has 116.375. Subsequently, the predictor tool reflected this ranking. Australia could consolidate its leadership if it wins the series at home against India. For its part, the two victories over the West Indies led New Zealand to 300 WTC points, obtained in four series within the current WTC 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 in five series. This will leave India needing to secure five victories, or four victories and three draws, in their last eight Test matches (away against Australia and at home against England) to prevent New Zealand from securing 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 obtain 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. 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 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, it will finish with 84 points per series played or 70% of the points played.By the time 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 series and the New Zealand vs. Pakistan series go, Australia could consolidate its lead in the number 1 position or concede ground to New Zealand.
