INDIA RETAIN SECOND SPOT IN ICC WTC RANKINGS

DUBAI: India kept themselves in contention of competing in the final of the ICC World Test Championship next year after winning the Melbourne Test that helped them retain their second spot in the updated points table, released on Wednesday. India bagged 30 points for their eightwicket win. They are placed second with 390 points and a 72.2 percentage of points (PCT).

Australia continue to occupy the top spot despite losing the Boxing Day Test and copping penalty for maintaining a slow over-rate against India. They now have 322 points with a 76.6 PCT.

New Zealand consolidated their third spot with a 101-run win over Pakistan in the first Test on Wednesday. The Black Caps earned 60 points for the win and now have a PCT of 66.7.

“New Zealand keep themselves in contention of making it to the final of the ICC World Test Championship,” the International Cricket (ICC) tweeted on Wednesday.

England and Pakistan form the top five of the WTC points table.

The top two sides at the end of the league on percentage points will play the final. Each series of the league is worth 120 points, distributed evenly over the number of matches in a series, ranging from 60 in two-Test series to 24 for a five-Test series.

Although India leads on the number of points, the ICC last month altered the points system for the WTC owing to the disruption of international cricket due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The factor that determines the final placing is now percentage points.

Sunny bats for Mayank, Rohit as openers

Former India skipper Sunil Gavaskar would like to see Rohit Sharma open with Mayank Agarwal in the third Test in Sydney. Rohit will join the side ahead of the third Test. The opening batsman’s inclusion in the squad will be a big boost for the visitors. However, one player will have to make way for Rohit in the playing XI.

Gavaskar feels Shubman Gill should bat at number three after Rohit comes in and Hanuma Vihari should be dropped for the third Test.

“I will have Mayank-Rohit opening, Gill in the middle order, and Vihari goes out for the third Test,” Gavaskar said on Sony Sports Network.

It is interesting to note that both Mayank and Vihari have not lived up to the expectation but the former India skipper backed Mayank over Vihari.