ICC World Test Championship.

[K]

New Zealand have leapt to the top of the table.

Real pressure on Oz and India now...

From the earlier table in this thread it looks like it started from scratch in 2019, so Oz's position does not count the debacle in S. Africa... Oz is due to tour S. Africa in March (if COVID allows). That spells trouble.

The best scenario for Oz would be if it went ahead but switched to a neutral venue like UAE. That would not be very fair to S. Africa of course.

[K]

Geoff Lawson:

New Zealand's No.1 ranking great reward for team of underrated overachievers

https://www.smh.com.au/sport/cricket/ne ... 56sue.html

"As the third Test commenced at the SCG, the ledger was: New Zealand 118, Australia 116, India 114 and England 106. Not much between the top three.
...

Currently, India are in their seventh away series in the ranking period, so they have been doing more hard yards offshore than New Zealand. If India can win in Sydney and/or Brisbane they will go top of the rankings. If Australia win, they will regain the mace."

[K]

If the final goes ahead in the middle of the year, it's obvious that no country will get anywhere near playing all others home and away to qualify. No country will get close to playing all others even once, either home or away. Qualification for the final will feel a bit random...

England have squeezed in a home series vs. NZ just before the final.

[Donny]

Totally meaningless concept.

We already have a team (Country) rankings table.

[K]

But the existence of a Championship with final has already had an effect on Tests (that is arguably positive). e.g. NZ took an aggressive, a bit risky approach to their home Tests.

[K]

After the Oz-SA series cancellation, NZ are into the final, media report.

Oz need a huge amount of luck to make it. Most likely, Oz will not make it and then won't have another Test until the Ashes.

[K]

It seems we should be hoping for a drawn series India vs. England. That's what Starc said in the slogathon final. Presumably the players have been told that. I can't even find out how many Tests that series has.

[K]

cricinfo provided more detail.

A drawn series would see Oz in.
But a 2-1 England win would also do.
(England need a 3-1 win. 2-1 or 3-1 for India is enough for them.)

And Oz would not be in this pickle if they had not screwed up by slow over rates in Melbourne.

There must be some really stupid guys in our 1st XI. It's bad enough losing the series, but throwing away a Test Championship Final because you can't bowl your overs in time is something else.

[K]

Final:

India vs. NZ

Jun 18-22, Southampton.

There is a spare day in case of weather interruptions. If there is no win/loss, the title will be shared.

[K]

It looks like torrential rain will save India from losing...

[K]

Day 1 washed out.
NZ win toss, field.

NZ left out Patel, and went in with 4 seamers + CdG.
India went the opposite way, with two spinners.

Apparently, Watling has announced his retirement after this match.

....................................................

Good toss to win. If there's swing, India could crumble. More rain is on the way. The best chance for NZ to win is to bat once only.

[K]

India have survived the first 4 overs.

0/9 (4).

[Donny]

India: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli (c), Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Rishabh Pant (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah, Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami

NZ: Tom Latham, Devon Conway, Kane Williamson (c), Ross Taylor, Henry Nicholls, BJ Watling (wk), Colin de Grandhomme, Kyle Jamieson, Tim Southee, Neil Wagner, Trent Boult

Interesting. India plays 2 spinners and NZ, other than the Skipper's occasional leggies, none.

[K]

India 0/26 (7).

India will be happy with that start.

[K]

India 0/37 (10).