World Test Championship 2023-25: Teams’ Chances and Remaining Scenarios Explained
World Test Championship 2023-25: Qualification Scenarios for the Final
The current cycle of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25 is heating up, with 15 matches left in the cycle and no team assured of a place in the top two yet. Here’s how the competing teams stack up and what they need to do to qualify for the WTC final at Lord’s in 2025.
South Africa
Current Percentage: 59.26
Remaining Matches: Sri Lanka (1 home Test), Pakistan (2 home Tests)
South Africa’s dominant win in Durban keeps their hopes alive, but there’s work to be done. They need four wins from their remaining matches to guarantee a spot in the final.
- If South Africa wins the second Test against Sri Lanka and draws 1-1 against Pakistan, they will finish at 61.11%, likely securing a final spot.
- A loss to Sri Lanka and two wins against Pakistan would leave them vulnerable, with India and Sri Lanka capable of overtaking them.
Sri Lanka
Current Percentage: 50.00
Remaining Matches: South Africa (1 away Test), Australia (2 home Tests)
Sri Lanka faces an uphill battle after their defeat in Durban. Winning all three of their remaining Tests would take their percentage to 61.54%, potentially enough to reach the final.
- A single loss or draw could drop them to 53.85%, leaving their fate in the hands of other teams’ results, including India, Australia, and South Africa.
New Zealand
Current Percentage: 50.00
Remaining Matches: England (2 home Tests)
New Zealand’s hopes took a hit with their fielding errors in Christchurch.
- Winning both Tests against England would raise their percentage to 57.14%, but they’d still need favorable results from other teams.
- A 1-1 draw or worse would almost eliminate them from contention.
India
Current Percentage: 61.11
Remaining Matches: Australia (4 away Tests)
India’s emphatic win in Perth has brought them to the top of the points table, but they must maintain momentum.
- Winning the series 3-0 against Australia would take their percentage to 62.28%, securing a final spot.
- A 2-3 loss could still keep them in contention, provided South Africa and Sri Lanka falter in their upcoming matches.
Australia
Current Percentage: 57.69
Remaining Matches: India (4 home Tests), Sri Lanka (2 away Tests)
Australia faces a challenging road ahead.
- To surpass Sri Lanka’s potential maximum of 61.54%, Australia needs four wins and a draw in their six remaining matches.
- A 2-0 sweep in Sri Lanka, coupled with a strong performance against India, could secure their place in the final.
Pakistan
Current Percentage: 33.33
Remaining Matches: South Africa (2 away Tests), West Indies (2 home Tests)
Pakistan’s qualification chances are slim but not entirely gone. Winning all four remaining matches would elevate their percentage to 52.38%.
- Even then, they’d need a highly improbable combination of results from other teams to make it into the top two.
England
Current Percentage: 43.75
Remaining Matches: New Zealand (2 away Tests)
England’s win in Christchurch gave them a slight boost, but their chances remain largely mathematical.
- Winning their last two Tests and several other results going their way could see them finish at 48.86%, though this is unlikely to secure a top-two finish.
Bangladesh and West Indies
Both teams are officially out of contention for a top-two finish in the WTC 2023-25 cycle.
What’s Next in the WTC Cycle?
As the WTC cycle nears its conclusion, the competition remains wide open. Key series like India vs. Australia, South Africa vs. Pakistan, and Sri Lanka vs. Australia will be decisive in determining the finalists. Stay tuned to EchoCricket.com for the latest updates, analysis, and match predictions.
