The ICC World Test Championship points table has come under criticism from the likes of Stuart Broad who said it just does not add up.
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The ICC World Test Championship cycle is coming to an end with the final between India and New Zealand on June 18. Both sides finished in the top two position of the ICC World Test Championship points table. New Zealand had an unbeaten run at home while overseas, they managed to draw against Sri Lanka but they lost to Australia. India, on the other hand, had series wins in Australia and were dominant at home. However, Stuart Broad recently expressed his unhappiness.
Speaking to the Press Association, Broad reasoned that the points system was not good in the Championship. “The World Test Championship is a really good concept, I just don’t think it’s quite right yet. It’s a first-time effort. I can’t quite work out how a five-match Ashes series can be worth the same as India playing Bangladesh for two Tests. We had an opportunity. But the amount of cricket we play as an England side in the current system makes it very difficult to get into the final,” Broad said.
Broad does have a valid point. England played a total of 21 Tests in the entire cycle. New Zealand played 11. Plus, one of New Zealand’s series against Bangladesh was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic. However, is it justified to criticize the points table of the ICC?
With several series getting cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic, the ICC had to change the concept of qualification. In December 2020, The ICC Board ratified the Cricket Committee’s decision to change the qualification structure for the final of the World Test Championship (WTC). Under the changed system, the WTC league standings would be determined by the percentage of points earned by teams. The percentage of points (PCT) is determined by the points won out of the total number of points contested.
Now, the basic system seemed fair. But, in reality, it was not. The simple reason was the number of Tests each country played. No team had an equal number of Test matches. England played the most. Bangladesh managed only seven Tests. Out of those, two came after the fag end of the ICC World Test Championship cycle when the finalists were determined.
Sri Lanka, South Africa, West Indies, Pakistan, Bangladesh and England all suffered from the one basic problem. No equality in matches.
If one looks at any league in the world, then the number of matches played is equal. One cannot see Manchester City win the title by playing far more games or Barcelona playing few games. The ICC, and cricket in general, has been plagued by the very decision of a number of series that two teams play.
In the entire ICC World Test Championship, there was only one five-match series which was the Ashes. Australia vs India as well England in India was a four-match series. For everyone else, the highest anybody got to was three Tests. New Zealand played four two-Test series, with only one being a three-Test series. Bangladesh did not even have the luxury of the three-Test series.
The big three of India, Australia and England managed to get the chunk of the games. Since broadcasting and financial clout determine which teams play the most number of games, it is obvious that India, England and Australia would play the most Tests. Behind England’s 21, India and Australia played 17 and 14 games respectively. This, despite Australia’s two series against Bangladesh and South Africa were cancelled due to COVID-19. Otherwise, that tally would have gone to 19.
The ICC would have noted that the lack of equal matches is the primary requisite for ensuring the points system is valid. One cannot have a situation of simply playing more games and the other playing far too little. However, for the ICC to implement equality, the ‘Big Three’ need to shun their ego.
There is far too much tradition involved in the Ashes to cut the current tally of five Tests. If England and Australia play five Tests in a series, then other teams playing five Tests is not possible. Broadcasters will not be too keen on the idea that West Indies vs Sri Lanka will be a five-Test series or Bangladesh taking on South Africa for five Tests.
Apart from India, England and Australia, no one has ever played many five-Test series. West Indies’ last series was in 2009. South Africa’s was in 2005. New Zealand has not played a Five-Test series for 50 years. At home, they have never played such a series. Sri Lanka and Bangladesh has never played a Five-match series while Pakistan last played in 1992. How will ICC manage the ego of the ‘Big Three’ and ensuring other teams get equal representation is the next big challenge. Perhaps, Broad can highlight this point rather than simply criticizing the points system.
