International Cricket Council came up with the idea of the World Test Championship to promote and revive the culture of Test Cricket. Due to the unpleasant condition prompted by the Coronavirus, various series under WTC 2019-21 got postponed.
Hence, ICC has decided to appoint the ‘Percentage of Points’ rule, as per the recommendations of the ICC Cricket Committee, headed by Anil Kumble. The percentage of points will determine the final standings of the World Test Championship, the ICC announced on November 19.
The Indian Cricket team who were earlier placed at the top of the points table of the WTC 2019-21 have been surpassed by the Australian Team with 82.22%. Currently, India is in the second position with 75% while England is at third with 60.83 %.
Team India will be a solo side in completing all the six series as per their WTC cycle. They will be playing against Australia and England in the last series of the cycle completing the total tally of 720 points.
The Percentage rule gives a different tangent to the remaining series in the WTC cycle. The top two placed sides are on the verge of locking horns against each other. Indian Test who secured their first test series on the Australian soil last summer would like to repeat some history.
India would need a series win to regain their first spot at the WTC table, failing to which, they might go under the England team.
Both England and New Zealand were written off from the race to the finals of the World Test Championship. However, because of the new percentage rule, the two sides have again bounced back in the game. New Zealand has to play home series against West Indies and Pakistan. Whereas, England has two tours away of India and South Africa in this WTC cycle.
The “Percentage of Point” rule would surely bring the missing spices and flavor to the World Test Championship.
Due to the current pandemic scenario, ICC is already running in losses.
ICC earns $405 Million from sponsorship and media rights owing to the Indian Board. If the Indian team fails to qualify for the finals, then the commercial value of the WTC would unhesitatingly go south.