Tag: ICC WTC Final

Can Sri Lanka still qualify for WTC final after South Africa series defeat?

Posted on by A Sports

Sri Lanka were whitewashed by South Africa in the two-match Test series, which dented their chances of qualifying for the final of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC).

Sri Lanka had arrived in South Africa with an aim to secure a place in the WTC final for the 2023-25 cycle, however, their hopes suffered a massive blow with a crushing defeat in the opening Test in Durban.

While the team displayed a more resilient performance in the second Test in Gqeberha, they ultimately fell short, succumbing to the hosts by a substantial margin of 109 runs.

This victory propelled South Africa to the top of the WTC points table, positioning them as strong contenders for the final.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka remained in fourth place, but their dreams of reaching the final were not entirely dashed. They still had two matches left in the current cycle, with Australia set to visit Sri Lanka for a two-match series next year.

The Sri Lankan cricket team need to achieve a clean sweep victory over Australia to boost their percentage points (PCT) to 53.85.

A victory by just 1-0 would leave Sri Lanka with a PCT of only 48.72, which would not suffice. Additionally, they need to keep an eye on the outcomes of other teams’ matches.

South Africa have two Tests remaining in the current cycle on their home soil against Pakistan. If they draw even one of those matches, they would secure a PCT of 55.56.

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However, if Pakistan manage to stun South Africa with a 2-0 victory, then the latter would finish with a PCT of 52.78.

Sri Lanka’s chances of qualification would increase significantly in case of South Africa’s defeat, regardless of the results from the ongoing series between India and Australia.

For instance, should Australia incur a 2-3 loss, their PCT would dwindle to 50.00, assuming Sri Lanka achieves a 0-2 victory over them. Similarly, if India were to face a similar 2-3 defeat, they would drop to a PCT of 53.51.

However, in the case of Pakistan’s loss against South Africa, the situation becomes more complex.

The only feasible path remaining for Sri Lanka to qualify under those circumstances would require the India-Australia series to conclude in a 1-1 draw. In this scenario, India would finalize their campaign at 53.51, while Australia would settle at a PCT of 50.00.

After going through all the scenarios, it’s clear that Sri Lanka would want Pakistan to achieve a clean sweep over South Africa.

If this happens and Sri Lanka can triumph 2-0 against Australia, their qualification would be nearly assured. Otherwise, Sri Lanka would still need to secure a 2-0 win against Australia while simultaneously hoping for three consecutive draws in the Australia series.

READ: Keshav Maharaj helps South Africa complete Test series sweep over Sri Lanka

How can India qualify for WTC final after crushing Australia in Perth Test?

Posted on by A Sports

India, under the stand-in captain Jasprit Bumrah, defeated Australia by a massive 295-run margin in the first Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Perth and claimed the top spot in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) standings on Monday.

Australia, while chasing a mountainous 534, crumbled to 238 all out in the final session on day four. A counter-punching Travis Head made a gritty 89 while Mitchell Marsh chipped in with 47.

But it was never going to be enough against an inspired attack led by the irrepressible Bumrah, who took 3-42 to claim eight wickets in the match. He was ably supported by Mohammed Siraj with 3-51.

It was an astonishing turnaround for India, who arrived in Australia on the back of a humiliating 3-0 home series defeat to New Zealand. They needed four victories in the five-match series to earn their place in the WTC final.

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With the victory in the Perth Test, India successfully ascended to the top of the WTC standings, boasting a PCT of 61.11 after winning nine out of their 15 matches in the ongoing cycle.

In contrast, Australia, who had previously held the leading position in the WTC standings, fell to second place following this match, now possessing a PCT of 57.69 after securing eight wins out of 13 matches.

However, the win in Perth did not guarantee India a spot in the WTC final. To ensure their place in the final, the Indian team would need to win three out of the remaining four matches during their Australian tour.

A 5-0 clean sweep or a 4-1 victory in the series would provide them with the coveted ticket to the final. In case they fail to achieve these results, their fate will depend on the outcomes of other teams in the championship.

READ: Ivory Coast bundled for record lowest-ever total in men’s T20I against Nigeria

Sri Lanka pip Pakistan in WTC25 standings with Bangladesh series sweep

Posted on by A Sports

DUBAI: Sri Lanka moved past Pakistan in the World Test Championship (WTC) standings with a clean sweep victory over Bangladesh in the two-match series, concluded earlier on Wednesday.

As per the latest World Test Championship standings, Sri Lanka moved up to fourth place only behind India (first), Australia (second) and New Zealand (third).

Sri Lanka have enhanced their chances of qualifying for next year’s ICC World Test Championship final with a thumping 192-run victory over Bangladesh in the second Test in Chittagong.

The Island nation wrapped up the win in the opening session of the fifth day of the final second of the two-match series at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium and clinched a comfortable 2-0 series sweep.

Sri Lanka still has two home series left in this cycle; they are slated to play two Tests at home against New Zealand later this year and a two-match series against Australia in early 2025.

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Their next assignment, however, is a three-match away series against England, commencing in August.

Sri Lanka dominated the majority of their recently-concluded away series with Kamindu Mendis finishing the series as the top run-scorer with 367 runs at an impressive average of 122.33.

Mendis scored an unbeaten 92 in the first innings of the second Test as Sri Lanka amassed a whopping total of 531. Their bowlers promptly backed their efforts by dismissing Bangladesh for a meagre 178 runs in reply.

On the contrary, hosts Bangladesh dropped to equal seventh on the updated World Test Championship standings, with their next series coming in Pakistan later this year when they travel for two Test matches.

READ: Marais Erasmus opens up on 2019 World Cup final umpiring error

One-off WTC final cannot decide world’s best team: Kohli

Posted on by A Sports

Southampton: Virat Kohli thinks that the winners of the inaugural World Test Championship final between India and New Zealand cannot determine the best Test side.
Both teams will be in action from today at the Rose Bowl in Southampton for this iconic finale of the game’s richest format. The 32-year-old believes that a one-off game would not give a definitive answer as to who was the best.
“If you’re talking about Test cricket and deciding who is the best team in the world on one game over a period of five days, that is not the reality of the truth,” he said.

“It is not going to reflect anything for people who really understand the game and who know exactly what has gone on over the last four or five years and how the teams have fared.”

Read: India, New Zealand to fight for first-ever ICC WTC Final

“If you win this game, cricket does not stop for us. If you lose this game, cricket does not stop for us. Our processes and mindset is what matters most to us. We are striving for excellence every day,” he maintained.
It must be noted that the first-ever Test championship started after the 2019 Cricket World Cup where teams played at home and away conditions.
India and New Zealand emerged as the top two sides with the winner bags ‘The ICC Test Championship Mace’ and a purse of $1.6 million.
The runner-up collectS $800,00 and in the result of a draw, the prize money for the first and second will be split between the two sides and the Mace shared.

India, New Zealand to fight for first-ever ICC WTC Final

Posted on by ali.ahmed

The ICC World Test Championship (WTC) Final between India and New Zealand will be the first of its kind in the game of cricket.
This effort by world’s governing body was to make Test cricket more interesting and relevant where teams played at home and away conditions.
Talking about the teams, both have been the best Test sides for quite some time and deserve their place in the final. The accolades are towards New Zealand but India can put great effort after what we saw their courage during the Australia tour.


The kiwis are coming into this game with advantage as they played two-Test match series against England prior to the final while India arrived two weeks back with little practice and straight out of quarantine.

How Teams Reached Here

Virat Kohli-led India qualified for ‘The Ultimate Test’ after finishing first on the standings but their spot in the decider was not secured until their very last match against England.
India were on their merry way to reach the final in terms of points earned but after the change in method due to the COVID-19 pandemic, India had their work cut out. The percentage of points secured was brought after the world went to a standstill.
India started their campaign with straight series wins against West Indies, South Africa and Bangladesh. They were dealt with hard time in New Zealand where they suffered a 2-0 defeat.


They traveled to Australia and were bundled out for a shameful 36 in the second innings of the Adelaide Test and lost the match by eight wickets but they restored their hopes by winning second and fourth Test, claiming back to back series win in Australia.
The misery continued after they tasted defeat in the opening Test against England but they were able to trap England in final three Tests with spin and took the series 3-1, securing top spot on the WTC standings.
New Zealand may call as luckiest to reach here after they didn’t play one away series due to pandemic but their performance at home, helped them to reach here.
They levelled the series in Sri Lanka 1-1 and lost to Australia 3-0. They bagged series wins against India, West Indies and Pakistan to lift themselves to second spot.

Key Battles

These type of encounters provide key battles up for the grabs and individual match-ups can potentially make the difference.
Virat Kohli vs Kane Williamson
The top two giants of world cricket will be leading their sides respectively and can play a pivotal role in their teams. The match will be a testimony of their class as they are called as ‘batters of this generation’ and being among the top five in current batsmen rankings, the fans will be at the edge of their seat while watching these lads.


Ajinkya Rahane vs Tim Southee
Kohli’s deputy Ajinkya Rahane has been India’s highest run-scorer and Tim Southee is New Zealand’s greatest wicket-taker. They have played vital roles for their teams in the road there and will have plenty to offer. Southee has taken 51 wickets at 20.66 in the WTC, with three five-wicket hauls along the way, while Rahane has scored 1095 runs at 43.80 this WTC cycle, notching three centuries and six half-centuries across 17 matches.
Rohit Sharma vs Neil Wagner
Rohit Sharma bats at the top, while Neil Wagner comes to ball as replacement of first two bowlers but still the battle between them, will be one to watch out for. Rohit is a master of pull shot while Wagner’s main weapon is a short ball.
Tom Latham vs Jasprit Bumrah
This battle at the top between these two rising stars will be a thrilling one for the cricketing world. Jasprit Bumrah is yet to dismiss Tom Latham in Test but his action becomes lethal when he comes round the wicket to the lefties and it might trouble Latham for an LBW dismissal.
Ross Taylor vs Ishant Sharma
The veterans of their respective sides with 100 Test matches at their back, Ross Taylor (107) and Ishant Sharma (101) will be eager to step up. Ishant has the better of Taylor as he has dismissed him four times and also holds a good record in England.

Pitch and weather conditions

The Rose Bowl has hosted six Test matches since 2011, providing help to both pacers and spinner. According to head groundsman Simon Lee, the pitch might have ‘pace, bounce and carry’ but the weather can make the difference as the forecast doesn’t look ideal.
There is a forecast of rain throughout five days and ICC has added a sixth day to compensate for it too.

Teams

India has announced their playing XI while New Zealand will name at the time of toss.
India
Virat Kohli (c), Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Mohammad Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, Ishant Sharma


New Zealand (possible XI)
Tom Latham, Devon Conway, Kane Williamson (c), Ross Taylor, Henry Nicholls, BJ Watling (wk), Colin de Grandhomme, Tim Southee, Ajaz Patel/Kyle Jamieson,  Neil Wagner, Trent Boult.

Prize Money

The winner will receive the ICC Test Championship Mace, which has been traditionally held by the No.1 Test team and prize money of $1.6 million while runner-up will collect $800,000. In the result of a draw, the prize money for first and second will be split between the two sides and the Mace shared.