Australia coach Andrew McDonald, talking to reporters ahead of the T20I series against New Zealand, said that the entire team will be keeping a tab of the fourth Test between India and England while preparing for their matches.
India, on the other hand, have inched one closer to the World Test Championship final where New Zealand awaits their opponent.
India climbed to second spot after a 317-run victory over England in the 2nd Test at Chennai.
While India slipped after their 227-run defeat to England in the opening Test in Chennai, the visitors kept alive their hopes of making the final of the inaugural event.
New Zealand have qualified for the final with 70 percentage points after Australia decided to indefinitely postpone their away series against South Africa in the wake of a fresh surge of COVID-19 cases there.
South Africa-Australia Tests postponement has made significant changes to the qualification scenario for the inaugural edition of the World Test Championship final.
South Africa-Australia Tests postponement has made significant changes to the qualification scenario for the inaugural edition of the World Test Championship final
Cricket Australia on Tuesday announced the postponement of Australia's scheduled tour of South Africa owing to a second wave of coronavirus.
The final of the inaugural championship was tentatively scheduled to begin on June 10 at the iconic venue in London.
Fourth-placed England's best chance of reaching the final is to win the four-match series against India by a 3-0 or 4-0 margin.
To remain in calculations for WTC final, England need to win the second test against Sri Lanka and then travel to India and win that series, too.
With the 2-1 series win, India have not just toppled Australia to reclaim the top spot in the WTC points table, they have consolidated their chances of qualifying for the Lord's final.
India are separated from New Zealand for the second spot with a difference of 0.2 per cent, tweets ICC.
If India can continue with their momentum and stun the Aussies at the Sydney Cricket Ground, they can finish with 420 points after the third Test with a PCT of 0.736.
Williamson-led New Zealand defeated Pakistan by 101 runs to take a 1-0 lead in the two-Test series.
India bagged 30 points for their eight-wicket win. They are placed second with 390 points and a 72.2 percentage of points (PCT).
With New Zealand whitewashing West Indies at home with a win on Monday, the Black Caps are emerging as a threat for Australia and India in the race to the Lord's final for the inaugural World Test Championship trophy.
The Kiwis have now won five Test matches in four series and are on 300 points.
Black Caps are fourth in terms of percentage points won, the factor that determines the final placings, following a change to the points system announced last week
Barclay dropped a hint that the inaugural WTC could well be the last one as smaller members can't afford Test cricket championship anymore.
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