New Zealand advances to the final of the World Test Cricket Championship
New Zealand’s recent sweep over the West Indies has boosted their aspirations of reaching the final of the World Test Cricket Championship (WTC), which will be played in June 2021 at Lord’s.
Following their victory in Wellington, New Zealand moved a step closer to the top spot in the Test rankings, remaining only 0.086 points behind Australia.
New Zealand’s victory in Wellington was followed by a moment of confusion, as the ICC’s prediction tool initially showed New Zealand at the top of the table. However, the ICC clarified in a tweet that Australia holds the first place with 116.461 ranking points, while New Zealand has 116.375.
Australia could consolidate its advantage if it wins the home series against India. For its part, the two victories 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, it 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 deny New Zealand a place in the WTC final at Lord’s.
In a world without a pandemic, New Zealand would also have had to score points in a series in Bangladesh. However, due to the impossibility of playing some series, the ICC had to change the criteria for qualifying from absolute points to a percentage of points played, 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 continue to 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-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 at stake.
When India completes its series against Australia and England, it will have played six series or 720 points. It 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 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 go, Australia could increase its lead at number 1 or concede ground to New Zealand.
