New Zealand close to the World Test Championship final
The recent victory of New Zealand over the West Indies has given them a real opportunity to reach the final of the World Test Championship (WTC), which will be played in June 2021 at Lord’s. New Zealand finished the series very close to the top spot in the Test rankings. They are only 0.086 points behind Australia, after their victory in Wellington. However, the news was not without drama. For several hours after the match, the ICC’s prediction tool showed New Zealand at the top of the table, which caused confusion in the cricket community. This, apparently, was an error, as the ICC clarified in a tweet that Australia is in first place with 116.461 rating points, while New Zealand has 116.375. Australia could extend that slight advantage if they win the series at home against India. Two wins over the West Indies took New Zealand to 300 WTC points in four series in the current WTC cycle, which ends on March 31, 2021. If they repeat the 2-0 result against Pakistan later in their summer, they will finish with 420 points in five series. This will leave India needing five wins, or four wins and three draws, from their last eight Tests (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 qualification criteria 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 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 both Tests against Pakistan, they will finish with 84 points per series played or 70% of the points contested.When India, currently with 360 points in 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 victories in the Tests 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.
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.
