As the first World Test Championship (WTC) cycle approaches its climax in Southampton, another is set to begin in the coming months.
The ICC recently announced that there would be a change to the points system for the second cycle, with all Tests carrying the same number of points and the table being determined by a percentage of points won per points contested.
The table for the 2019-2021 cycle was originally meant to be based simply by the number of points accrued by each team, with every series having an equivalent number of points available. This meant that individual Tests had a varying number of points available; a single win in a two-Test series was worth 60 points but only 24 points in a five-Test contest.
Due to the scheduling complications that were brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, the ICC adopted a percentage of points won per points contested approach to determining the table midway through the 2019-2021 cycle.
The ICC are yet to confirm the exact points breakdown but assuming the same points ratio for wins, draws and defeats is retained, with a win worth three times that of a draw, this is how the first cycle would have ended with the new system. We have assumed 60 points for a win, 20 points for a draw, and none for a loss.
The standings are identical to the original table, though there are differences in the gaps between sides. For example, with the new points system, India would have topped the league table by some distance rather than just narrowly pipping New Zealand and Australia, largely due to their 2-0 series defeat to the Blackcaps being given a lesser weighting under the new system.
