ICC TEST CHAMPIONSHIP CRITERIA TO QUALIFY FOR INDIA, AUSTRALIA, PAKISTAN, ENGLAND AND NEW ZEALAND IN THE FINALS

ICC Test Championship has been a great tournament so far. For the first time in the history of Cricket ICC has conducted a test tournament. Each team to play three home and three away series in this tournament.  The tournament started with the first test of the Ashes series between Australia and England. The final of the competition will be played at Lord’s in June 2021. A total of nine teams have participated in this tournament (INDIA, AUSTRALIA, PAKISTAN, NEW ZEALAND, SOUTH AFRICA, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, England, and West Indies). The road to the final has been difficult for India, Australia, Pakistan, and New Zealand. The war for the final two spots is not less than any World cup. 

Because of the corona pandemic international Cricket was halted for almost nine months. But still, England managed to play some home series in July and resumed the ICC test championship. But as the outbreak is still affecting the world it is uncertain that the final would be held in June 2021. The circumstances have compelled ICC to bring some changes in the point calculation system of the ICC Test championship. 

Earlier the rule was the top two teams on the chart with the highest points would make it to the final of the ICC Test Championship. The new law has brought some changes to the point table. According to the new law, the teams having the highest point percentages would qualify for the finals of the ICC Test championship. Each team can combat for a maximum of 720 points in 18 matches (highest)

HOW THE NEW POINT CALCULATION SYSTEM WORKS?

Suppose a team has 300 points out of 420 points then the point percentage is 300/420 multiplied by 100. That means the point percentile is 71%. According to the new rule, Australia is at the top of the table with 82.22% points, India is in the second position with 75 %, England is in the third with 60.83 %, and New Zealand and Pakistan are in the fourth & fifth position with 50 & 39.53 % respectively. 

HOW AUSTRALIA CAN QUALIFY IN FINALS?

Australia is in the top position with 82.22 % points. They have accumulated 296 out of 360 points. Australia has been unlucky as their series against Bangladesh got canceled due to the Covid-19 pandemic. In order to seal a place in the finals, they have to win the series against South Africa and India. If Australia wins the series against India and South Africa their point percentage will be 90%. If they win against India by 4-0 and lose against South Africa then Australia would slip down to 69%.

HOW INDIA CAN QUALIFY?

India has now eight tests remaining. If India whitewashes Australia and England then they have an assured spot in the finals at Lord’s. If India wins only four tests out of 8 tests then India’s point percentile would be 66%. Then there would be a 50-50 chance for India to qualify. They would have to rely on New Zealand. 

HOW PAKISTAN CAN QUALIFY ICC Test Championship?

Pakistan has very few chances to qualify as they will play one Test against Bangladesh and two series against New Zealand & South Africa respectively in their den. If Pakistan defeats South Africa and New Zealand then they have a slight chance to reach the finals but at the same time England has to lose seven tests in England and Australia has to beat India and South Africa. 

HOW ENGLAND CAN QUALIFY?

England to play only two more series in the ICC Test Championship 2019-21 against Sri Lanka and India respectively. If England is defeated in all the seven test matches, they are knocked out of the tournament. If they win the series against Sri Lanka but lose to India then their chances to play the final will depend on how Pakistan and New Zealand get along.

HOW NEW ZEALAND CAN QUALIFY ICC Test Championship?

Every team’s qualification is heavily dependent on New Zealand. They are to play only two series against West Indies and Pakistan. If they win all four test matches then they would have 400 points out of 600 points (70%). If Australia whitewashes India and England wins at least one match then New Zealand can qualify for the finals.