Consider the following statements in respect of the ICC World Test Championship:
1. The finalists were decided by the number of matches they won.
2. New Zealand was ranked ahead of England because it won more matches than England.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
Explanation
Statement 1 is incorrect: Following pandemic disruptions and cancelled series during the 2019-2021 inaugural ICC World Test Championship, the ICC Board altered the tournament ranking system. Final qualification was determined by the Percentage of Points (PCT) contested rather than total matches won or total points earned, ensuring fair evaluation despite unequal series played.
Statement 2 is incorrect: During the league cycle, England won 11 matches while New Zealand won only 7 matches. However, New Zealand qualified ahead of England because its percentage of points won (70.0% PCT) was superior to England’s (61.4% PCT), not because New Zealand had won more matches.
Therefore, neither statement is correct — Option D.