The inaugural World Test Championship Cricket Final is set to be played between India and New Zealand at the Rose Bowl, Southampton from June 18 onwards. This is a one-off game and the winner is set to enter the annals of cricket history books as the first test champion of world cricket, as did both West Indies and India by winning the inaugural editions of 50-over World Cup and T20 World Cup respectively. So there’s a lot riding on this game. Considering the nature of this game, with only one chance, neither the captain or the players have even the slightest of room to make mistakes. Everyone has to bring his clutch game and must hold on to his nerves during pressure-cooking situations.
Both teams are here on merits, no doubt about that, after leading the 2-year ICC tests points table. India and New Zealand both finished as the best and second-best teams during that ICC calendar that started on 1 August 2019 with the first Test of the 2019 Ashes series, is set to finish with the Final at the Rose Bowl, Southampton in June 2021.
The first-ever WTC Final match was originally scheduled to take place at the iconic Lord’s Stadium. However, due to the Covid-19 concern and the logistics issues in London, the ICC decided to shift the venue to the Rose Bowl, in Southampton. The IND vs NZ World Test Championship 2021 match will be played between June 18-22, but a reserve day has been booked in case the weather plays the spoil-sport. Click to know ICC Test Championship Winner Prize Money
India finished first in the World Test Championship 2021 Points Table while New Zealand were the second-best team. As per the original ranking system, each bilateral test series was supposed to carry 120 points, with teams awarded points based on the wins and the draws. However, as a lot of games were called off due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, the ICC had to make amends to the original point system with the points percentage becoming the deciding factor in determining the ranks.
New Zealand was the first team to qualify for the WTC Final 2021 after the postponement of the test series between Australia and South Africa. The Aussies pulled out of the tour of South Africa citing an unavoidable and unacceptable risk to players due to the surging numbers of Covid-19 in the African country.
At that time, New Zealand had the points percentage of 70 points. India national cricket teamgained some valuable points following an outstanding 2-1 win in Australia and had the points percentage points 71.7 before the series against England.
Australia were third with 69.2 points, while England were placed fourth having earned 65.2 points.
But India’s 3-1 home series win against England propelled Virat Kohli and Co to 72.20 percent, which earned them the first spot in ICC World Test Championship Points Table. Click for Pitch Report & Weather Forecast
New Zealand laid the marker down for the WTC Final match following a 1-0 win in the two-match tests series against host England. With that series win, Kane Williamson and Co now sit at the top of ICC Test Rankings with 123 ratings. The Kiwis have earned 2593 points from 21 games as well.
India with 121 rating points are second before the World test championship final. Virat Kohli’s team could take the first spot back from the Kiwis with a series win against England.
Australia and England play the most number of test matches and that’s why both the nations combine for six batsmen in the top-10 most run getters in the WTC Test Championships. Having scored 1675 runs in 13 matches, averaging more than 70 runs per innings, Australia’s sensation Marnus Labuschagne racked up the most number of runs in WTC, followed by England captain Joe Root who had made 1660 runs over the two-year WTC cycle, averaging 47.42 in 20 odd tests.
Surprisingly,Virat Kohli couldn’t make the cut in the top-10, with Ajinkya Rahane and Rohit Sharma the only two Indians in the top-10 batsmen with most Runs in Test Championship. Rahane managed 1095 runs in 17 tests, 28 innings, averaging 43.80, while Rohit racked up 1030 runs in 11 tests with a staggering average of 64.37. Click for WTC Final stats guide including batting, bowling, team records & Dream11 Prediction Tips
Ravichandran Ashwin is the only Indian bowler in the top-five bowlers with the most wickets in World test championship. The Delhi Capitals bowler is ranked third having taken 67 wickets in just 13 games, with the best figures of 7/145.
Australia’s fast bowler Pat Cummins takes the crown of the most wickets. The KKR speedster took home 70 scalps in just 14 games with the best figures of 5/28.
India Squad: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Chesteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (c), Ajinkya Rahane, Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja, Hanuma Vihari, Umesh Yadav, Ravichandran Ashwin, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Wriddhiman Saha
New Zealand Squad: Kane Williamson (C), Tom Blundell, Trent Boult, Devon Conway, Colin de Grandhomme, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Tom Latham, Henry Nicholls, Ajaz Patel, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor, Neil Wagner BJ Watling and Will Young.