IT IS A ONE-OFF MATCH to decide the Test champion of the world. A culmination of a two-year-long journey for both India and New Zealand. And it ends at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton, starting June 18. The ICC World Test Championship (WTC) started in August 2019, ten years after the ICC approved the idea. It featured 71 Test matches in 27 bilateral series.
The WTC points table—with Virat Kohli-led India right at the top with 520 points—may not tell the full story. India has played in six series as part of the WTC, notching 12 wins, four losses and one draw. Kane Williamson’s New Zealand is second with 420 points, having played five series, winning seven Tests and losing four. Percentage points were calculated taking into consideration how Covid-19 affected tours and schedules of all the nine nations involved. These points show more parity, though this updated system was not to Kohli’s liking. India, with 72.2 per cent, is closely followed by New Zealand with 70 per cent.
The actual difference between the two teams is even less. Both sides are well balanced, led by world-class captains, have bowling attacks that the likes of Australia and England are wary of, and have batting lineups that do not give up. Both sides boast of long servants (like Cheteshwar Pujara or Ross Taylor) and exciting players (like Rishabh Pant and Devon Conway). The bowling units of both teams are comparable, especially the pacers with their right mix of pace, variety and experience. India though may just about have the edge in the spin department. And finally, there is no better stage for Kohli and Williamson to face off, their batting and captaincy contrasting in nature. Both are eager to get their hands on an ICC trophy, something that has eluded them thus far.
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