New Zealand advances to the final of the World Test Cricket Championship
The recent victory of New Zealand over the West Indies gives them a solid chance of reaching the final of the World Test Cricket Championship (WTC), which will be held at Lord’s in June 2021. New Zealand was very close to first place in the Test rankings, just 0.086 points behind Australia, after their victory in Wellington.However, the news was not without some confusion. For several hours after the match, the ICC’s prediction tool showed New Zealand at the top of the table, which generated some uncertainty in the cricket community. This error was corrected, and 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 consolidate its advantage if it wins the home series against India. For their part, the two victories over the West Indies led New Zealand to add 300 WTC points in four series in the current cycle, which ends on March 31, 2021. If they repeat the 2-0 result against Pakistan later on, they will finish with 420 points in five series. This would require India to secure 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, but because some series could not be played, the ICC had to change the criteria for classification from absolute points to a percentage of points played, or, 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 continue to lead the table with a percentage of 74.17%, but if they lose 1-2, their percentage will fall to 70%. 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, 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 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 and New Zealand vs. Pakistan series go, Australia could extend its lead in the number 1 spot or concede ground to New Zealand.
