Both India and Australia gained 10 points each from the SCG draw as New Zealand and India are neck and neck in the WTC Points table
India's grinding draw at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) in the third Test, apart from saving the game meant the visitors secured 10 points as far as teh World Test Championship (WTC) points table is concerned. Even Australia also got 10 points from the game and as it stands, Australia currently are at the top with 73.8 points percentage and by the virtue of those 10 points India managed to keep their second spot intact as they have just 0.2 points percentage more than New Zealand's 70.
New Zealand's 4-0 at home - Trouble for the top two
New Zealand's clean sweep in their home Test summer against West Indies and Pakistan by 2-0 each meant they won all the 240 points at stake in the two series. Them taking those 240 points home meant they now stand at 420 points out of 600 they have played. New Zealand have played five series in the WTC tenure - two away and three at home. They won all the six matches at home and won one and lost four away from home.
New Zealand's outstanding home record means they are back in the reckoning for the Lord's showdown in June this year, which has created problems for the top two teams.
What India need to do?
India are on second position with 360 points out of 480 contested. However, New Zealand's upsurge means they have to win more games than they initially needed to, to secure their place in the WTC final.
As it stands, India need to go past 504 points before June, to stay above 70 points percentage ahead of New Zeland. After SCG draw, they now have 400 points in the bag out of 570 contested. Out of the five remaining games (one against Australia and four against England at home), they need to win at least three games and have two drawn games or win four games to stay ahead of New Zealand.
If India lose in Brisbane against Australia, they will need to clean sweep the England team at home by 4-0 to stay ahead of New Zealand as every win will give them 30 points and they will take out 10 points for each draw.
Thus, the importance of the Gabba Test increases multifold given the stakes - both in terms of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and WTC points table.
What Australia need to do to secure place in Lord's summit clash?
On the other hand, Australia are all but through to the WTC final at the Lord's unless they lose all their remaining four scheduled Tests, which is highly unlikely.
The Aussies currently stand at 332 points out of 450 they have contested, which makes their points percentage tally currently stand at 73.8.
For them to stay ahead of New Zealand's 70 percentage points, Australia need to win atleast three games out of remaining four. If they lose two games, their chances of qualifying may take a hit.
But if they win only two out of their remaining four games (one against India at home and three against South Africa away), they have to ensure that they don't lose the other two and at least maintain draws in both the games. As, if they lose even one game, they will need to ensure wins in all the other three games.
Since its a three-match series against South Africa, a win will give both the teams 40 points and 13 for a draw.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Vihari and Ashwin")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}