Chance for Australia to regain top spot in Test Rankings

The ongoing Trans-Tasman Trophy between Australia and New Zealand is getting exciting. Australia have won the 1st Test in Wellington by an innings and 52 runs thanks to Josh Hazlewood and Peter Siddle’s heroics with the ball in New Zealand’s first innings and Adam Voges’s 239 in Australia’s first innings. However, this win not only gives them a great chance to win the Test series but also places them in contention to regain the No. 1 Test team ranking, win the Test Championship mace and claim a substantial amount of prize money.

Steve Smith, after taking over Test captaincy from Michael Clarke less than a year ago, has the chance to dethrone India from 1st place in the ICC Test Rankings and lead the Australian side to the top spot.

At the moment, the Indian team holds the place with 110 rating points after 32 matches. Australia, follow them closely just one point behind and are at levels with the South African team that also has a rating of 109 after 34 matches.

Here are the three scenarios of the upcoming Test match and their implications on the Rankings: 

If Australia wins the 2nd Test: Australia will be No. 1 and India No. 2

If the 2nd Test is drawn: Australia will be No. 1 and India No. 2

If New Zealand wins the 2nd Test: India remain No. 1 and Australia drop to No. 3

The annual cut-off date for the ICC Test Championship is April 1st. This Test series is scheduled to end on February 24, post which, we will not be seeing any Test matches till April 1st, which means, the timing could not be more perfect for Australia. Last year the Proteas were awarded US$ 500,000 as the world’s top Test team, and in 2016, reports suggest that prize money has doubled to US$1million.

This is a remarkable chance for Smith and the team, considering Australia have lost 6 players in retirement over the last year.

“We want to be number one in the world in all three formats and I think this test match is a step in the right direction,” Smith told reporters. “I said when I took over as captain that I wanted to win every series away from home.

“It’s great to be one-nil up in the series against New Zealand and hopefully we can take a step up in Christchurch.”

The 2nd Test between New Zealand and Australia is set to take place at Christchurch from Feb 20th to 24th.