Consider the following statements in respect of the ICC World Test Championship : 1. The finalists were decided by the number of matches they won. 2. New Zealand was ranked ahead of England because it won more matches than England. Which of the above statements is/are correct?

A country's position can change when you compare absolute numbers versus normalized rates or indices.

High-yield for UPSC because many questions ask to compare countries using different indicators (totals, per capita, index scores). Mastering this helps avoid incorrect conclusions when ranking-based prompts appear in GS and economic topics; it links economy, development indices and data interpretation skills and enables tackling questions that require critical reading of comparative tables.

Different indices are built from specific components and coverage; you must inspect methodology before attributing why one entity ranks above another.

Useful across polity, economy and social sector questions where causal statements about rankings are tested. Knowing to check methodology prevents misinterpretation of headline ranks and supports evidence-based answers in mains and interview discussions.

Distributional figures (like top/bottom shares) give context beyond simple rank positions and affect how comparative statements are evaluated.

Important for questions on inequality, development and international comparisons; it trains aspirants to use deeper distributional data rather than relying solely on ranks, improving analytical answers in GS papers and essays.