Australia and England played the first Test of the Test Championship on 1st August 2019. And more than 500 days later, the finalists are yet to be decided.
The final will be held between the two top teams based on a championship points table similar to the English county cricket system. As such fans across the world started counting the points of their favourite teams not just the series wins. Though the COVID-19 pandemic affected most of the series held last year, the Test Championship didn’t lose the viewers’ excitement. So, let’s find out who can make it to the final and which countries are the shortest Cricket Betting odds.
Test Championship so far
42 Tests has been played between the nine teams since the start of the Test Championship in August 2019. While England played most tests, Bangladesh played only three tests because of the pandemic. As of 8th January, Australia has emerged as the table toppers with eight wins in 12 matches. They have 322 points at the top with the ICC’s new point system. India who had the perfect start is currently second with the shortest margin from third-placed New Zealand. England is fourth with 292 points and is ready to claim the upcoming series’s top two spots.
Here is how the Test Championship Points Table looks like (as of 16/01/2021)
| Rank | Team | PCT | Points | Series Played | Matches | Matches | Matches | Matches |
| Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | |||||
| 1 | Australia | 73.80% | 332 | 4* | 13 | 8 | 2 | 3 |
| 2 | India | 70.20% | 400 | 5* | 12 | 8 | 1 | 3 |
| 3 | New Zealand | 70.00% | 420 | 5 | 11 | 7 | 0 | 4 |
| 4 | England | 60.80% | 292 | 4 | 15 | 8 | 3 | 4 |
| 5 | South Africa | 40.00% | 144 | 3 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 6 |
| 6 | Pakistan | 30.70% | 166 | 4.5 | 10 | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| 7 | Sri Lanka | 22.20% | 80 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| 8 | West Indies | 11.10% | 40 | 3 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 6 |
| 9 | Bangladesh | 0.00% | 0 | 1.5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| As at 16/01/2021 |
Table Credit: https://www.icc-cricket.com/world-test-championship/standings
Inclusion of Percentage Based Ranking
In the beginning, the ICC allotted 120 points per series. The points were given to the winning team after dividing the number of games per series. But on 19th November 2020, the ICC introduced the percentage-based ranking system. The ICC Cricket Committee headed by Anil Kumble decided that the teams be ranked based on the percentage of points won to maintain the status quo after the global pandemic. This inclusion literally turned the tables by pushing the table-toppers India to number 2 even after having the most points at that time. On the other hand, Australia claimed the top spot with 82.2% of the percentage. Though the decision faced some backlash, all cricket boards respected the decision and decided to go ahead.
Which teams are favourite to meet at The Lord’s?
With ten series left to be played, the Test Championship is getting tougher and more challenging. Only the New Zealand team will be staying put ideal as they have no tournaments to be played, which are part of the Test Championship. Let’s go through the permutations & Combinations the teams will need to qualify for the final at the Lord’s.
AUSTRALIA
If we consider New Zealand’s Percentage as the baseline, Australia needs at least 98 points to be at the final. They have two games left in the ongoing series followed by a 3 Tests series against the host South Africa. They will need at least two wins from the next series and two draws or else three wins from their remaining six games to book the tickets for the Lord’s comfortably. Seeing their recent form and the recent form of South Africa, it looks like Australia has the upper hand over all the remaining opponents.
INDIA
It was going great with India before the introduction of the percentage-based point system. But then losing all the points against New Zealand changed their dynamics. Now they have to win at least three and draw 3 of the remaining six games to qualify for the finals. They need a minimum of 114 points to maintain or improve their position in the ranking table. Even after this tricky situation, team India is still considered a likley finalist of the first Test Championship. Though they have two games remaining against the host Australia, their final series is against England at Home. The last time England visited India, the hosts won 4 tests out of the five played. Do you understand now why Michael Vaughn tweeted India to lose 4-0 to Australia?
NEW ZEALAND
The new world number 1 Test cricket team has nothing in their hand but to wait on others to perform poorly. They have played their last series of the Test Championship against Pakistan. Thanks to their captain and the world number 1 test batsman Kane Williamson who helped them win it comfortably along with the other team. They will want either Australia or India not to achieve the combination of required victories to qualify for the final.
ENGLAND
Playing with possibly the best batting and bowling lineup, England is still far away from the road to the final. It will be hard for them to sit and watch the final from the Lord’s while the other two teams are playing at The Lord’s. England has two series left – One against Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka & one against India in India. They will need to whitewash Sri Lanka first. Their struggle won’t end here. They will need to win three tests and one draw in the 4 Tests series against India. This seems highly unlikely unless India have been dominant at home for quite some time now. Thus, England looks almost on the verge of going out of the final.
SOUTH AFRICA
South Africa still has a chance to qualify for the finals. It’s just they have to win all their remaining games. With their current form and team combination, even Cricket SA knows that it’s improbable.
Pakistan, West Indies, Sri Lanka & Bangladesh have already lost their path to the finals as they need to win more points than what they can possibly get. There is no combination where they can qualify for the final.
What are the series to look out for in WTC?
India Vs England (FEB 2021)
This will be the most important series for India and the other teams that are looking to grab the finalist spot. The English team can spoil the party for India. And this can help Australia also in case of any surprises given by the hosts – South Africa.
South Africa Vs Australia (Feb 2021)
This series will also be added to the calendar to watch out for as a result here and there can remove Australia from the top 2 spots.
The first World Test Championship has reached the final stages of its 2-year span. Though the finalists haven’t decided yet, the picture will be clear by next month. It’s Australia, India and New Zealand favourites for the finals.
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