Updated: November 20, 2020 10:04:19 am
The Indian cricket team celebrates their series win over Australia in Sydney on January 7, 2019. (File / AP Photo / Rick Rycroft)
The ICC Board on Thursday (November 19) ratified the decision of his Cricket Committee to change the qualification structure for the World Test Championship (WTC) final. Under the modified system, the WTC league ranking would be determined by the percentage of points earned by the teams.
What is the change?
The ICC Cricket Committee headed by Anil Kumble decided to override the canceled matches forced by Covid and determine the WTC league ranking only from the matches played.
Although the current regulation of the WTC dictated the division of points by abandoned parties, the Committee of Chief Executives of the global body and the Board ratified the change.
So how will the teams qualify?
According to the ICC, it will be determined by the percentage of points obtained in the games played. Percentage of Points (PCT) is the percentage of points earned out of the total number of points played.
For example, India will face Australia in a four-round series in Australia in December-January. Each series is assigned 120 points. So, for a series of four tests, the points assigned per test are 30, 15, and 10 for a win, a draw, and a draw, respectively. 📣 Express Explained is now on Telegram
If, for example, India wins the series 2-0 with two other Events tied, it will score 80 points; 66.67 percent of the total points played.
As to date, India has contested 480 points, reaching 360 points. So your PCT is 0.750 (75%). The final team ranking will be determined by the total number of points played and the total percentage of points won.
Does the change affect India?
Yes. In an updated league table, where PCT is of utmost importance, India has fallen to second place in the team standings.
They were first on the table in the old system, with 360 points, followed by Australia with 296 points. But Australia’s PCT, 0.822 (82.2%), is higher, having gained 296 points out of 360 contested points.
The top two teams will qualify for the final, which will be played in England in June next year.
What is the reason for the change?
According to the ICC statement, “to date, just under half of the World Trials Championship matches have been played.” The pandemic forced the cancellation of six series this season, five series and a test between Pakistan and Bangladesh to be precise, and the world body has a race against time to complete the cycle in March next year.
The window from late March to May is reserved for the Indian Premier League (IPL). Under the original schedule, each team in the current WTC cycle was supposed to play six series. But now, only India is likely to meet their quota, as after playing in Australia they will host England for a series of five tests. India has played four series so far, winning three of them.
Does the change create a level playing field?
The ICC believes so. “Both the Cricket Committee and the Executive Directors Committee supported the approach of ranking teams based on matches completed and points earned, as this reflects their performance and does not put teams that have not been able to compete at a disadvantage. all their parties through no fault of their own, ”said ICC Executive Director Manu Sawhney.
He added: “We explored a whole range of options, but our members were convinced that we should proceed as planned with the first World Test Championship final in June next year.”
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