New Zealand Advances to the Final of the World Test Cricket Championship
New Zealand’s recent victory over the West Indies has strengthened their chances of reaching the final of the World Test Cricket Championship (WTC), which will be played in June 2021 at Lord’s.
New Zealand came very close to reaching the top spot in the Test rankings, finishing just 0.086 points behind Australia, after their victory in Wellington.
The situation generated some initial confusion due to an error in the ICC’s predictive tool, which momentarily placed New Zealand at the top. However, the ICC clarified that Australia remains in first place with 116.461 points, while New Zealand has 116.375.
Australia could cement its leadership if it wins the home series against India.
With two wins over the West Indies, New Zealand accumulated 300 WTC points from four series in the current cycle, which ends on March 31, 2021. If they repeat the 2-0 result against Pakistan, they would add 420 points from five series.
This would mean that India would need 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.
Due to the pandemic, the ICC modified the classification criteria, changing from absolute points to a percentage of points played.
Currently, Australia leads the WTC table with 82.2% of the points won. If they draw 2-2 against India, they will maintain the lead with a percentage of 74.17%, but if they lose 1-2, their percentage will drop to 70%.
If New Zealand wins both matches against Pakistan, it will finish with 84 points per series played, or 70% of the points played.
India, with 360 points from four series played, will have played six series or 720 points when their series against Australia and England are over. They will need to surpass 504 points to overtake New Zealand (84 points per series or 70% of the points played).
Each India win in the remaining Tests will be worth 30 points, and draws 10 points. Five wins or four wins and three draws would secure them a place above New Zealand.
Regarding the ranking, Australia could consolidate its leadership or concede ground to New Zealand, depending on the results of the India versus Australia series and the New Zealand versus Pakistan series.
