Published – 6th March

Updated – 21st July

The ICC World Test Championship is a league competition for Test Cricket run by the ICC, which started on 1st August 2019.

The main motive behind this tournament was to have teams compete with each other over a period of around 2 years. The top 2 teams who finish the points table would be featured in the finals scheduled to be played at Lords on June 18-22.

Also Read: ICC WTC 2023: World Test Championship Full Schedule 2021-23, New Points System

Cricket Australia very recently postponed their 3 match test series against South Africa. With this, New Zealand became one of the finalists for the inaugural ICC World Test Championship. This has left the rest of 3 teams India, England, and Australia fighting for the 2nd spot.

New Zealand has played all their league matches of the tournament and they are currently placed at the second position. They cannot drop any further now and their 2nd position is fixed.

They can even reach 1st position, for that they need other results to go their way. India is currently at the top position with a PCT of 71.7 percent courtesy of their 2-1 series triumph against Australia. That series loss against India has pushed Australia at No.3 position, with 69.2 PCT, followed by England with 68.7 PCT.

The team which will face New Zealand in the finals depend on how the upcoming series between India and England ends. Below are the qualification scenarios which the teams need to work upon in order to face New Zealand in the finals:

India is in a healthy position to reach the finals. Things are very much clear for the men in blue. They need to win at least 2 matches out of the upcoming 4, and not lose the other two remaining matches of the series. They can qualify even if they lose 1 test match. Playing test series in India gives them the opportunity to make things done easily.

However, God forbid if they lose 2 test matches, they will be knocked out of the race for the ICC World Test Championship final irrespective of other results. India will be thorough to the finals if any of the below-mentioned stats becomes a reality:

4-0, 3-0, 3-1, 2-0, 2-1.

England has a tough task if they reach the final of the world test championship. They need a series win against India. This in itself is very challenging for any touring team let alone England.

England will need to win at least 3 test matches in the 4test series to make it through to the finals and compete against England. That would mean a series victory against India in India. Any of the below four scenarios will see England make the cut:

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4-0, 3-0, 3-1.

  • WHAT AUSTRALIA NEEDS TO DO

Australia postponed their proposed series against South Africa and this had set them back in the race to the finals of the ICC world test championship. They should pray that India – England series goes their way.

Following stats if achieved can see them squeeze through to the finals:

  1. If England win the series by 1-0, 2-0 or 2-1.
  2. India wins by 1-0
  3. The series ends in a draw.

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Latest Updates on ICC World Test Championship Final

After beating England By 3-1 India enters into World Test Championship Final. India and New Zealand qualified for the inaugural World Test Championship final.

Due to the spike of Covid cases in India, UK put India in Red list. From 23rd April 2021 British citizens arriving from India will have to be a mandatory quarantine of 11 days in the hotel. Other Indian citizens cant travel to the UK till next order.

So it’s very difficult to predict that whether this tournament will happen or not.

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ICC is confident of hosting the ICC test Championship final between India and New Zealand from June 18-22 at Southampton. June 23 is a reserve day. Recently, the UK government has put India under the “Red List” of travel restrictions. ICC spokesperson said they are constantly in touch with both nations for ease of travel during the mega final.

Team India will board to England on 2nd June and after 10 days mandatory quarantine they will start practice.

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