International Cricket Council (ICC) Announces New Point System For The Second Cycle Of World Test Championship!

After a successful implementation of the first-ever World Test Championship, ICC has now started the second cycle of Test Championship. Significantly, New Zealand beat India in the finals of inaugural WTC to win the championship for the first time. Because of some faults in the point system, ICC was heavily criticized by fans from all over the world. Now, ICC has announced a new point system for the upcoming phase of the World Test Championship. Let’s have a look at it.

The next cycle of the WTC will be during 2021-2023. The international board on Wednesday made an official announcement regarding the new system and confirmed that the teams will be rewarded with 12 points for the win, 4 points for the draw, and six 6 points for a tie. Earlier the teams were given 120 points for the series. It was series of two matches, the winning team would get 60 points. And if it was a series of 5 matches, the winning team would be given 24 points. The old system looked unfair and unequal. Significantly, the second term of WTC will kick off with the five-match test series between England and India. 

It was already predicted by several sources earlier that ICC would change the point system and a new standardized system will be introduced. ICC acting chief Executive Geoff Allardice said in a conference that the new change has been introduced to generalized and simplify the point system. Allardice said in an ICC statement that the board received several issues and suggestions regarding the point system for the WTC. The cricket committee looked into the suggestions while proposing the new point system. Every match will be valued regardless of the series. He added to his statement that the team’s standing at the table is taken into consideration. 

He further said that due to the pandemic they used the percentage point system as it was impossible for the cricketing boards to complete the necessary six series fixture for every team. Geoff praised the percentage point system and said that because of this system they were able to get their finalists and the WTC final was played as per the scheduled time. 

Three teams will play a 5 match test series. In August India will play 5 match test series against England at their home. Apart from this, England and Australia will have Ashes this year which is a trophy of 5 matches.  

After losing the finals at Southampton, Indian Skipper Virat Kohli said in the press conference that ICC has done a good job by introducing this concept. It has increased the excitement of the test format among the fans. He added that his team will start a new fresh campaign for the next cycle.

New Zealand Skipper Kane Williamson said after the finals win that it has been a great initiative by ICC to reload the test format. He said that his team will be looking for another test mace.