Why draws in lost Test series really count now

[Junaids]

Four years ago, Pakistan had lost the First Test at Christchurch against New Zealand.

The Second and Final Test was played at Hamilton. Pakistan were set a target of 369 to win, and at the start of Day 5 they were 1-0.

Pakistan reached 76-0 in 39 overs.

Pakistan reached 158-1 at tea, in 67 overs.

Here on PakPassion a huge debate then erupted. People like myself argued that no team was going to score 211 to win after Tea on Day 5, and that Pakistan should take the draw.

Mickey Arthur was in his sixth Test as coach, and was incensed when Pakistan then accelerated - and started taking crazy risks - and scored 72 runs in the next 25 overs.....and lost their remaining 9 wickets.

A 1-0 series defeat was now a humiliating 2-0 whitewash.

But now the World Test Championship points system actively rewards teams for salvaging a draw for a Test they might have lost.

In the recent England v Pakistan series:

1. The winner of the First Test took 40 points, the loser took 0 points.
2. For each drawn Test in a 3 match series, each side takes 13 points.

The series just concluded therefore ended as follows:

England 66 points
Pakistan 26 points

The gap is only 40 points across a 3 match series, whereas if Pakistan win the rescheduled home Test v Bangladesh they will take 60 points.

That is significant, when you see that the current table now reads:

1. India 360 points
2. Australia 296 points
3. England 292 points
4. New Zealand 180 points
5. Pakistan 166 points (if they win the postponed home Bangladesh match it will be 246 points)
6. Sri Lanka 80 points
7. West Indies 40 points
9. South Africa 24 points
10. Bangladesh 0 points

Those 26 points will take Pakistan comfortably ahead of New Zealand if they win their rescheduled match against Bangladesh. And they also ensured that England only won 40 more points than Pakistan in that home series - when a 3-0 whitewash would have left England taking all 120 available points.

Suddenly draws matter. They matter a lot!

 

[hoshiarpurexpress]

If draws matter now, then something is wrong with the WTC.
The whole point was to incentivize the wins so that teams push for Victory at all costs.
Not try to draw games. Besides in the current series it more because of weather the 2 draws happened then the quality of opposition faced by England.

 

[Varun]

I wish Pakistan qualify for the Test Championship just to placate poor Junaids.

 

[Mesozoic]

5. Pakistan 166 points (if they win the postponed home Bangladesh match it will be 246 points)

226*

Those 26 points will take Pakistan comfortably ahead of New Zealand if they win their rescheduled match against Bangladesh

Yeah but New Zealand have one series in hand. How does that even matter ?.

 

[ChTab]

Test championship is hugely flawed.

1. Every team should play every other team in championship. (not going to happen because of ind & pak relationship)

2. Every team should play with same team on home and away basis.

3. Every team should play same number of games in championship.

4. Instead of final being played every 2 years it should've been after every 4 years.

It is really stupid that some teams are playing much more games than the other teams.

 

[Titan24]

Test championship is hugely flawed.

1. Every team should play every other team in championship. (not going to happen because of ind & pak relationship)

2. Every team should play with same team on home and away basis.

3. Every team should play same number of games in championship.

4. Instead of final being played every 2 years it should've been after every 4 years.

It is really stupid that some teams are playing much more games than the other teams.

Agreed especially about the number of games. However, reason probably has been that for some boards its not financially feasible to hold a so many tests while the others can.

Regarding playing everyone, I think ICC needed something quickly to add the much desired context to tests and two years cycle provides that in a much faster way without having to wait for four years which is a long time to get the result in comparison to other such leagues of different sports.

Still your points raise valid questions and can be argued upon, I had the same questions when championship was first launched.

 

[ChTab]

Agreed especially about the number of games. However, reason probably has been that for some boards its not financially feasible to hold a so many tests while the others can.

Regarding playing everyone, I think ICC needed something quickly to add the much desired context to tests and two years cycle provides that in a much faster way without having to wait for four years which is a long time to get the result in comparison to other such leagues of different sports.

Still your points raise valid questions and can be argued upon, I had the same questions when championship was first launched.

Well every board can arrange 2 match series so they should've gone with that & if you want to play 3,4 or 5 match series only 2 will be included in test championship kind of what they're doing in ODI league.