India’s 2-0 series victory over Bangladesh was confirmed on Sunday, cementing their second place in the ICC World Test Championship standings. Bangladesh fought hard, but India won by three wickets in Mirpur thanks to Ravichandran Ashwin and Shreyas Iyer’s batting prowess. This helped them maintain their second-place finish in the World Test Championship standings, putting them in a good position to compete in back-to-back finals. In this section, we look at how teams might qualify for the final.
Australia is first with 76.92% of the possible points.
South Africa (two Tests at home), India (two Tests away) (away, four Tests) 84.21% is the highest possible percentage finish.
Australia is in pole position to reach their first World Test Championship final, with Pat Cummins’ side currently leading the standings. Following a dominant performance in the first Test against South Africa, Australia has two more home matches against the Proteas, which they will be confident of winning given their current rich vein of form. Australia’s final assignment this period will be four Tests in India for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in February and March next year, but if everything goes well on home soil, they could almost have their place in the final wrapped up before then.
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India came in second with 58.92% of the possible points
Series still to come: Australia (home, four Tests), 68.06% is the highest possible percentage finish.
Despite missing a number of key players due to injury, India defeated Bangladesh 2-0 away from home. Bangladesh put up a better fight after being defeated by India by 188 runs in the first Test, but India proved to be the superior side with a three-wicket win in the second Test, increasing their point percentage to 58.92. They will need to produce some good results during their series against pacesetters Australia if they are to make back-to-back appearances in the World Test Championship final, so India still has a lot of cricket to play.
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South Africa came in third with 54.55% of the possible points
Australia (away, two Tests), West Indies (two Tests) (home, two Tests), 69.77% is the best possible percentage finish. Losing a Test match within two days is never good news, and after their six-wicket loss to Australia, South Africa was knocked out of the top two and replaced by India in the World Test Championship standings.
The good news for Dean Elgar’s team is that they still have a chance to reclaim their place in the top two, but they must respond quickly during their current series in Australia. South Africa does have the luxury of two home matches against the West Indies in February and March, but they will want to make sure they don’t leave themselves too much work by the time that series arrives.
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Sri Lanka came in fourth with 53.33% of the possible points
Series still to come: New Zealand (away, two Tests), 61.11% is the highest possible percentage finish.
Sri Lanka has been one of the big winners from recent Tests, as their chances of making their first World Test Championship final have improved without even playing a match. Regardless of other results between now and next year’s final, Sri Lanka will need to win all of their remaining Test matches to have any chance of appearing. Sri Lanka has only one series remaining, a two-Test trip to New Zealand in March, where they have won only twice in 19 attempts. Maximum points in New Zealand would bring them to 61.1%, so they’ll be hoping Australia can keep winning and sneak into second place with two wins over the Kiwis.
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England ranks fifth with 46.97% of possible points (out of contention)
In the remaining series, The highest possible percentage finish is 46.97%.
While England is one of the form teams in the current World Test Championship, poor results early in the tournament mean they are no longer eligible. They ended Pakistan’s hopes with a victory in the third and final Test in Karachi, and they will undoubtedly be among the favorites heading into the next World Test Championship period.
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West Indies finished sixth with 40.91% of possible points.
South Africa is the final series (away, two Tests), and 50% is the best possible percentage finish.
The West Indies have only two Tests left, with their recent 2-0 series loss to Australia leaving Kraigg Brathwaite’s side with little chance of progressing. If they can defeat South Africa 2-0 in their remaining two Test matches, they may be able to sneak into second place if other results go their way.
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Pakistan ranks seventh with 38.89% of possible points.
Series still to come: New Zealand (home, two Tests), The highest possible percentage finish is 47.62%.
Pakistan can finish with a win percentage as high as 47.62 percent if they win their final two Test matches this period – they host New Zealand in a quickfire series later this month. That could be enough to put them ahead of seven other teams and into second place in the final standings, but this is also required:
- Australia will be their best ally, as they will need Pat Cummins’ team to keep winning against South Africa and then against India next year.
- They will need Bangladesh to do them a favor and cause a massive upset by defeating India in the ongoing Test series in Mirpur
- They will need New Zealand to defeat Sri Lanka in both of their Test matches in March next year
- They will need the West Indies to defeat South Africa in one of the two Tests away from home next year and then hope the second match ends in a draw (this would ensure both sides finish lower than Pakistan on the standings)
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New Zealand came in eighth with 25.93% of the possible points (out of contention)
Pakistan (away, two Tests) and Sri Lanka are the remaining series (home, two Tests). The highest possible percentage finish is 48.72%.
While New Zealand still has four Tests left this season, they will be unable to defend their World Test Championship title, which they won at Lord’s last year. They have the potential to be the final nail in the coffin for both Pakistan and Sri Lanka in their upcoming series.
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Bangladesh ranks ninth with 11.11% of possible points (out of contention)
In the remaining series, 11.11% is the best possible percentage finish.
Bangladesh has had a very disappointing season, and the Asian side is almost certain to finish last in the standings.
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