World Test Championship: ICC Considering Splitting Points For Covid-19-affected Games Ahead Of Final In June

The WTC Was Launched By ICC Last Year To Lend Context To Bilateral Test Series:

The International Cricket Council ( ICC) is reportedly considering splitting points for unplayed games in the current cycle, with an eye on hosting the final of the World Test Championship (WTC) in June next year.

Last year, the WTC was introduced by the ICC to provide meaning to the bilateral test series, giving the format its standalone showpiece in other formats, including the World Cup. As per the format, six series over two years with the top two reaching the final at Lord’s are scheduled to play the nine top-ranked sides.

The inaugural Championship final is expected to take place next year in June. There were fears that the final could be delayed in the aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic, but it has not yet been abandoned by the ICC. And the governing body is considering multiple steps at the moment to ensure that the final takes place on schedule.

One of two choices to be discussed by the cricket committee next month, on how to handle the points system in a league disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic, is to split the points for the games that had to be postponed. The other choice, according to a leading sports website, considers only those matches already played by the end of March and bases final positions on the percentage of points earned by the sides of the contested ones.

By the time the next WTC commitment starts, with West Indies’ two-Test series in New Zealand in December this year, the governing body needs to have a good picture of the matter.

By the time the next WTC commitment starts, with West Indies’ two-Test series in New Zealand in December this year, the governing body needs to have a good picture of the matter.

It was appropriate to postpone a total of six test series in the aftermath of the coronavirus outbreak. As things stand, it’s not apparent when the series will be rescheduled. The chances of the delayed series being squeezed in during the current cycle seem extremely unlikely with the WTC cycle scheduled to end in March 2021.

It will be within the regulations to break the points as they are, whereby all tests in the cycle that can not be played are considered draws (through no fault on either side). Both sides earn a third of the points available for a test in that situation (120 points are available for each series). On the other hand, it would entail a tweak to current laws to base it on percentages of points played for.

India, having played four episodes, currently tops the WTC points table, led by Australia, who have played one less. England has played four, including the July-August home series against West Indies and Pakistan, and is seventh. Four and three series were played by Pakistan and New Zealand respectively. On the other hand, only two of their six scheduled series have so far been played by Bangladesh, South Africa , West Indies and Sri Lanka.