Ravi Shastri Questions Logic Of Tweaking Rules Midway For ICC World Test Championship

Mar 7, 2021 at 5:21 PM

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Ravi Shastri Questions Logic Of Tweaking Rules Midway For ICC World Test Championship

Ravi Shastri, coach of India wasn’t a happy man when he got to know that ICC has decided to tweak the rules of the World Test Championship. India head coach Ravi Shastri wasn’t happy after knowing that ICC decided to tweak the rules of the World Test Championship.

In the aftermath of C-19, ICC’s technical committee tweaked the rules where each team would now have to qualify on the basis of percentage points and not the actual points earned.

Ravi Shastri. (Photo Source: Twitter)
Ravi Shastri. (Photo Source: Twitter)

Ravi Shastri Questions ICC’s Sudden Change In Qualification Norms In Inaugural World Test Championship Final

India was the biggest loser in the new scenario because they had to win the series in Australia and seal the deal at home against England to seal the WTC Finals spot despite being top-ranked at one point.

Indian team broke a flurry of records in the series-final against England. (Reuters Photo)
Indian team broke a flurry of records in the series-final against England. (Reuters Photo)

“I am sitting at home during Covid-19, right in the month of October-November. You have got more points than any other team in the world. 360 at that time, suddenly, a week later without playing any cricket, there is a rule that comes stating that the points would be decided on the percentage system and go from number one to three. Fine, that’s because of countries not wanting to travel, all acceptable and fine,” Ravi Shastri said.

As Ravi Shastri pointed out, India was on top of the table before the COVID-19 pandemic but the ICC brought in changes to the system, prioritizing win percentage points.

Rishabh Pant, Washington Sundar, Ravichandran Ashwin, And Axar Patel Shines

Prior to the rule change, India was the front-runners to enter the WTC final as they were the table toppers and miles ahead of their next competitor.

“I want to understand the logic behind this, what is the way forward for me? I have to go to Australia, sitting comfortably at the top spot, leading by 60-70 points. They say you have to go to Australia, you have to beat Australia. How many teams in the last ten years can say with guarantee that we will beat Australia?” said Ravi Shastri.

“The reason I am saying this, you are sitting at the top of the table, percentage system, you have to go to Australia and beat Australia. If you do not beat Australia, you come back home and beat England 4-0, you get close to 500 points and you still do not qualify. We have had to dig deep, we have had to go down every hole that is needed to find water. Do not ask me about the next cycle, first, let’s finish this cycle,” he added.

India beat England in the fourth and final Test match in Motera to enter the WTC final. It came down to the wire for the hosts who had to win back-to-back Test matches to lift the series 3-1.

Washington Sundar made a memorable debut to remember for India in Test, scoring 84 runs and picking 4 wickets, as they beat Australia by 3 wickets in Brisbane to clinch the series 2-1 and retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy for the second time in succession at Down Under.

Axar Patel, Ravichandran Ashwin Pick Up Five-Wicket Hauls
Axar Patel and Ravichandran Ashwin took five wickets each in the 2nd innings.© BCCI

Rishabh Pant scored 274 runs in 3 Tests in Australia averaging 68.5. He scored 91,11, unbeaten 58, 8, and 101 in the 5 innings against England. He has managed 270 runs so far against England averaging 54.

For his all-around effort (32 wickets and 189 runs), Ravichandran Ashwin walked away with the Man of the Series award while Axar Patel took 27 scalps in his memorable debut Test series playing only 3 Tests against England.  India came back remarkably after losing the first Test both against Australia and England.

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