img source:sportswhoop.com
What happens if the WTC final ends in a draw or tie?
Joint-winners can be the only option if the WTC final ends in a draw or gets tied
After a span of exhausting the last two years, the World Test Championship (WTC) is going to witness its one of the best two contenders for the title. They are India and New Zealand who will lock horns from 18th to 22nd June at Ageas Bowl, Southampton. The WTC started with the first Test of Ashes series in 2019. There were nine teams – Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, Pakistan, New Zealand, South Africa, Sri Lanka, and West Indies who fought in between them revolving 25 series in total. India finally finished at the top spot, with 520 points in 6 series that included 12 Test wins, four losses, and a solitary draw.
Their rivals New Zealand, who will be meeting at Southampton for the ostensible clash, finished with 420 points from 5 series, registering 7 Test wins and 4 losses. International Cricket Council (ICC) had introduced WTC intending to revamp Test cricket that was gradually losing its shine following the increasing popularity of short format competitions. However, the inaugural edition of WTC received a big blow due to the worldwide aggression of the Covid-19 pandemic as the schedule had to be changed several times, and at the same time series getting either canceled or postponed.
Also Read - Top 5 Indian Players who surprising selection for the WTC Final Squad
However, despite several hindrances throughout its initial journey in the last two years, the primary impression has been significant. Additionally, ICC seems to have earned success also through the fulfillment of its vision and mission behind the aim, conceptualized two years ago that WTC has been able to revive the prestige and popularity of Test cricket to some extent.
Along with changing the schedule of the fixtures, this deadly pandemic also altered the points system. The initial system was made on points distributed evenly over the number of Tests in the series (each series consisted of 120 points, divided by the number of Tests the series comprised reaching the number of points for each win) was amended by the ICC after they realized that complete of the cycle as per the schedule would not be possible due to pandemic.
There was a directive that suggested any incomplete match will be counted as a draw with a points split. But that was superseded to determine the finalists based on the matches that could be completed and the new methodology for calculation –a percentage of points– was brought up. India and New Zealand have set themselves as the present finalists, based on the percentage of points that they acquired from the Tests they have contested for.
News - WTC final against India would be a fantastic challenge: Kane Williamson
But now the most important question is that what happens if India against New Zealand affair at Southampton results in a draw or tie. The ICC has not declared any tie-breaker formula so far for the opening edition of the Championship. In that case, if the WTC final ends in a draw or tie, both the teams will be declared joint champions.
There is no other option revealed by the ICC so far if what happens if India against New Zealand affair at Southampton results in a draw or tie. A reserve day has been fixed that is supposed to come into play if net playing time (six scheduled hours a day is called Net Playing time) is lost due to any unavoidable reason.
News - WTC Final: Ravindra Jadeja starts preparing for England tour at home
However, the reserve day cannot determine the result or outcome. It can only compensate for the lost time or lost overs. The ICC has also clarified many overs will be played on the reserve day and not an entire day will be used to get to an outcome. Even if some overs are lost because of weather or bad light during the regular five days. Still, that does not reply exactly what happens if India against New Zealand affair at Southampton results in a draw or tie.
