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The second Test of the ongoing three-match series between New Zealand and England, which kicked off at Basin Reserve in Wellington on Friday (December 6), is a must-win game for the Kiwis.
The second Test of the ongoing three-match series between New Zealand and England is scheduled to take place at Basin Reserve in Wellington. (Picture Credit: AP)
After suffering a shocking defeat by 8 wickets against England in the first Test of the ongoing three-match series played at Hagley Oval in Christchurch last week, the New Zealand men’s cricket team would like to come up with a big show in the second Test against Ben Stokes-led side, which kicked off at Basin Reserve in Wellington on Friday (December 6). Kiwis, who are still alive in the race to qualify for the World Test Championship (WTC) 2025 final, need nothing less than a win in the second match of the bilateral series to keep their chances alive of finishing in the top two of the ongoing WTC 2023-25 points table and book a place in the WTC 2025 final, which is scheduled to take place at The Lord’s in June next year.
If Kiwis managed to get the better of England in the second as well as the third Test, then they will end the WTC 2023-25 cycle with 55.36 PCT%. As of now, three teams—India, South Africa, and Australia—have more than 55.36 PCT% to their credit, but since they have at least three more Tests to play, a lot can change in the coming days.
New Zealand will have a realistic chance of finishing in the top two if they win the next two Tests. But if they lose any of the remaining two Tests or even play a draw, then their chances of qualifying for the WTC 2025 final will be all over. In the case of one draw and one win, New Zealand can’t finish with more than 50.60 PCT%, and in such a scenario, even one win in the next three Tests will make sure that both India and South Africa will finish above New Zealand in the WTC 2023-25 points table.
Even though two wins in the remaining two Tests will also not guarantee New Zealand a place in the WTC 2025 final, they will progress only if South Africa and Sri Lanka lose at least two of the remaining three Tests and Australia beat India in three of the remaining four Tests of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25.
In such a scenario, India, South Africa, and Sri Lanka can’t finish with more than 53.51, 52.78, and 46.15 PCT%, respectively.
- Location :
Wellington, New Zealand
