Team India Faces New WTC Challenge as Australia Secures First Test Win: Rohit and Co. Prepare for England Tests
Australia’s dominance in the World Test Championship (WTC) cycle has been cemented with their recent 10-wicket victory over the West Indies in the opening Test. As all is going on, Team India is preparing for a five-match Test series that will begin on January 25 against England. In the current WTC cycle, this will be India’s third series and their first at home since 2012. The current Test Championship rankings have been altered by Australia, the reigning World T20 winners, as India looks to maintain their winning streak against England.
The WTC’s Dominance of Australia
Australia proved again to be a clinical squad at the Adelaide Oval, as they defeated a weakened West Indies side 3-0 after defeating Pakistan earlier in the month. On the third morning of the match, Josh Hazlewood’s outstanding five-wicket haul contributed to the Windies being limited to just 120 runs. Australia’s Steve Smith and Usman Khawaja nearly finished the job with a target of just 26 runs, but Khawaja had to be forced to retire injured after being hit by a bouncer. Still, Marnus Labuschagne scored the game-winning run to give Australia an insurmountable 1-0 lead in the series.
Australia’s sixth victory in the current World T20 cycle came from their 10-wicket triumph, which also solidified their lead in the points table. Australia’s PCT (Percentage of points contested) is now 66.11, having accrued 66 points from nine matches. Their next game, which takes place at the Gabba on January 25th against the West Indies, offers them a chance to add more points to their total. Australia might potentially reach 78 points if they continue their winning streak at their stronghold.
India’s Path to the WTC Championship
With two victories in their last four games, India is now ranked second in the points standings. They have won over South Africa in Centurion recently, as well as the West Indies in August of last year. India must defeat England 5-0 in the forthcoming five-match Test series in order to defeat Australia and guarantee a position in the WTC final. India may score 60 points against England, bringing their total to 86 and their PCT to 79.6.
India should be wary of their rivals, though, as South Africa and New Zealand, with 12 points apiece after two games, are now in third and fourth place on the points table. In the upcoming month, the two squads will play a two-match series.
The Obstacles That Team India Faces
India has a difficult road ahead of them in their bid to qualify for the WTC final. They will play the West Indies in a two-Test series in the Caribbean to start their campaign. Even while it would seem like a reasonably simple series to start, India cannot afford to become complacent. After that, India will go on a five-Test series in Australia with the goal of repeating their past triumphs there. In addition, India will have the chance to overcome the one Test-playing nation where they have not yet won a series in the longest format—South Africa—where a two-Test series lies ahead.
India will play England in a much awaited five-Test series at home. England’s aggressive style of play, which is akin to “Bazballing,” makes the game more exciting. India will also play a two-Test rubber against Bangladesh and a three-Test series against New Zealand. India’s prospects of earning a third straight trip to the WTC final are anticipated to be heavily influenced by the results of the series against England, Australia, and South Africa.
The Timetable and Upcoming Opportunities
The upcoming cycle of the World Test Championship features an interesting schedule of games. Notably, because of the tense bilateral ties, no Test series between India and Pakistan are planned. Australia’s 2024–2025 tour of India may potentially decide the two sides’ places in the 2025 championship match at Lord’s.
England’s journey to their first-ever WTC final in the birthplace of English cricket will not be easy. England faces a challenging five-Test trip of India, a country they lost to 4-0 on their previous visit. Additionally, they will each play three Test matches in New Zealand and Pakistan. Their World T20 cycle is completed with two somewhat dull home series against the West Indies and Sri Lanka.
As the first-ever winners, New Zealand had a balanced schedule, traveling to the subcontinent to play Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and India. South Africa, Australia, and England will also be hosted by them. South Africa’s two-Test series against Pakistan, India, and Sri Lanka reveal a subcontinental bias in their assignments. Along with hosting the West Indies, they will also go to Bangladesh and New Zealand.
The World Test Championship’s Significance
Test cricket has been revitalized by the World Test Championship, which has excited and provided context for both players and spectators. Cricket fans throughout the world are fascinated by the format, schedule, and point system. Wasim Khan, the general manager of cricket at the ICC, notes the popularity of the championship, pointing to the big crowds at The Oval for the final and the high global viewership.
The championship offers 12 points for a victory, 6 for a tie, and 4 for a draw in order to decide the top two teams. The finalists are finally determined by the total points earned over the two-year cycle. Home board preparations that benefit their own teams have frequently resulted in a big edge. There have been instances where pitch modification and extra pressure on visiting teams have resulted from this emphasis on home advantage.
In summary
The next Test series between India and England is the new emphasis as Australia revels in their recent victory in the WTC final. India must overcome a number of obstacles on its route to the WTC final, including difficult away tours and strong opponents. India’s prospects of making the championship final will be shaped by how they play South Africa, Australia, and England. Cricket fans all around the globe are fascinated by the globe Test Championship, thus the upcoming cycle looks to be an intriguing and fiercely contested struggle for Test dominance.
