Chennai: England’s 227-run win over India in the first Test of the ongoing four-Test series has kept their hopes alive of making the World Test Championship final scheduled to be held in London in June.
The victory at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Tuesday lifted England to first place on the points table with 70.2 percentage points. They’ve improved their chances of securing one of the three series results — 3-1, 3-0 or 4-0 — that would help them qualify for the final.
New Zealand have already qualified for the final winning 70 per cent of their matches (with no other series scheduled) while India and Australia remain in contention for the other place along with England.
India, who have slipped to fourth position with 68.3 percentage points, cannot afford another loss in the four-match series and will be looking to win at least two of the remaining three games to secure a 2-1 or 3-1 result and a place in the final. Australia will get to feature in a Trans-Tasman summit clash if the India-England series is drawn or if England win 1-0, 2-1 or 2-0.
Pakistan’s 2-0 home win over South Africa sees them finish the series in fifth position with 43.3 percentage points, while South Africa slip to sixth position with 30 percentage points.
West Indies are seventh with 23.8 percentage points after their epic victory in the first Test against Bangladesh, who are last on the table and yet to win a point.
Meanwhile, India captain Virat Kohli seemed unhappy with the way England batsmen were running on the pitch while batting in their second innings of the first Test at the M.A.Chidambaram Stadium here.
Kohli was heard complaining to the umpires on the fourth day of the match on Monday. India lost by 227 runs on Sunday.
Oye, Menon (Nitin Menon), seedhe run bhi beech me bhaag raha hai yaar (he’s even running easy runs in the middle of the pitch), Kohli could be heard saying over the stump mic. ‘Kya hai ye (What is this)?’
Kohli said after the match that the Indian players’ body language was not up to the mark.
Our body language and intensity was not up to the mark, second innings we were much better. We were better in the second half of the first innings with the bat, not the first four batters, said Kohli at the post-match presentation ceremony.
We have to understand the things that we have done decently in this game and the things that we haven’t and as a side we are always looking to improve. England were far more professional and consistent throughout the Test match than we were, he said.