How Bangladesh’s loss to Australia boosts India’s last WTC hopes | cricket news

NEW DELHI: Bangladesh’s loss to Australia in the second Test in Mackay has given India a small but significant boost in the race for a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.Bangladesh had stunned Australia in the opening Test in Darwin to secure their first Test win in Australia, but Mitchell Starc’s 10-wicket haul inspired the hosts to an innings, 51-run victory in the second Test on Sunday. The result not only allowed Australia to level the series 1-1 but also cost Bangladesh valuable points in the WTC standings.India, currently fifth in the nine-team table, can now leapfrog Bangladesh and regain fourth place by beating Sri Lanka in the second Test in Colombo.

Bangladesh’s defeat opens the door for India

Bangladesh remain fourth despite the defeat, but their points percentage (PCT) has fallen sharply from 66.67 after their win in Darwin to 55.56. They now have 50 points in six games, with three wins, two losses and one draw.India is just behind them with 64 points and a PCT of 53.33 from 10 matches. Shubman Gill’s team has five wins, four losses and one draw.The equation is simple for India: a victory over Sri Lanka in Colombo will allow them to overtake Bangladesh and move into fourth place.Australia reinforced its position at the top with 96 points and an 80 PCT in 10 matches, while South Africa is in second place with a 75 PCT and New Zealand third with 72.22.Sri Lanka, India’s current opponent, is ranked sixth with a PCT of 33.33. England, the West Indies and Pakistan occupy the next three positions.India’s biggest challenge, however, is that it needs to keep winning consistently to stay in contention for the top two positions that will ultimately determine the finalists.

Bangladesh makes ranking history despite defeat

Bangladesh’s Test campaign has yet produced a historic achievement. Despite losing the second Test, they rose three places to No. 6 in the latest ICC Test Rankings, their highest position yet.“Of course (reaching No. 6) is good news,” Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto said after the loss in Mackay. “I just heard about it. Reaching No. 6 in the Test rankings is a great achievement. It would have been better if we could have played better cricket in this Test match.”Shanto also called for Bangladesh to play more often in Australia after their first Test series there in 23 years.“We are here after 23 years (the first Test series in Australia since 2003). It is not easy to compete in these conditions against a team of this quality. If we are able to come here consistently, then the players will be able to get an idea of ​​how to play here. They will have more experience playing in Australia. They can adapt to these kind of conditions and play good cricket,” he said.“It’s difficult for the players. Probably 90% of the players haven’t played here. They don’t know how to adapt, how to deal with this kind of condition and this kind of bowling attack. My request is that we want to play here. We want to play in similar conditions consistently, not after 23 or 25 years,” he added.