New Zealand becomes first team to qualify for inaugural test championship final

Cricket Australia has pulled out of a three-test series in South Africa next month, citing an “unacceptable risk” of sending players there during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to The Associated Press.

The ICC said in a statement that the South Africa-Australia postponement means New Zealand has become the first team to qualify for the inaugural test championship final to be held in England from June 18 to 22, with June 23 as the reserve day.

It said New Zealand is ranked second on the ICC WTC table with a 70% points total.

They will be joined by either India, England, or Australia with the second spot being determined by the outcome of the India vs. England four-match test series due to start on Friday.

Interim Cricket Australia CEO Nick Hockley issued a statement saying he believed there was no choice but to postpone the tour and he had informed his South African counterparts.

Tim Paine’s Australia team just finished a 2-1 home series loss to India following a first defeat at the Gabba since 1988. South Africa is 1-0 down in Pakistan with the second and final test starting on Thursday.

According to The Associated Press, Hockley said the South African and Australian cricket boards were not able to finalize a bio-security plan for the series that was scheduled for March.

It’s a setback for coach Justin Langer and test captain Paine, who were appointed in the wake of the ball-tampering scandal in South Africa in 2018 that resulted in 12-month bans for then captain Steve Smith and vice-captain David Warner.

“As difficult and disappointing a decision as this is, especially for Justin, Tim and the team, we have a duty of care to our people and their health and safety can’t be compromised,” Hockley said.

“We look forward to playing the series at a date to be confirmed.”

Missing the series means Australia has no control over its prospects of qualifying for the inaugural world test championship in July.