New Zealand has become the first team to qualify for the World Test Championship finals scheduled to play at The Lords.
New Zealand Qualified for World Test Championship Finals
For New Zealand to make the final they needed no more than one other team to finish with more than 70.0% of points earned, but now only one team from either India, England can finish with more than NZ’s percentage points.
Not only India and England are in the race, Still, Australia can also qualify for the WTC finals if this happens.
This comes after Australia’s tour of South Africa was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
CA’s interim chief executive Nick Hockley said traveling to South Africa posed an “unacceptable” risk to the touring party.
“Following extensive due diligence with medical experts, it has become clear that travelling from Australia to South Africa at this current time poses an unacceptable level of health and safety risk to our players, support staff and the community,” CA’s interim Chief Executive Nick Hockley said.
Australia tour of South Africa postponed
Cricket Australia confirmed that the South Africa tour has been postponed not “Cancelled”.
“We look forward to playing the series against CSA at a date to be confirmed in due course and we send CSA and the people of South Africa our very best wishes for a successful rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine and a return to normality soon” – Nick Hockley, CA’s interim CEO
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) February 2, 2021
Kane Williamson-led New Zealand on Tuesday became the first team to qualify for the finals of the inaugural edition of the ICC World Test Championship.
All to play for in the upcoming India v England series with three teams able to meet New Zealand in the final of the inaugural ICC World Test Championship!
Here’s the breakdown, assuming a full 4-Test series with no ties and no further matches involving NZ or Australia 👇 #WTC21 pic.twitter.com/TTZFkPd1Ex
— ICC (@ICC) February 2, 2021
The decision also means that Australia’s bid to feature in the WTC final has been virtually closed. However, if both England and India play two draws in their upcoming four-match Test series, starting from February 5, then Australia will have a slender chance of making it to the WTC final.
