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ICC World Test Championship final qualification: South Africa will ensure a maiden appearance in the WTC title clash if they manage to win one of their remaining two matches of the current cycle.
(From left) Temba Bavuma, Rohit Sharma and Pat Cummins (AP/AFP)
ICC World Test Championship final qualification: Last year’s ICC World Test finalists India and Australia have been given a major wakeup call by South Africa after the Temba Bavuma-led side outclassed Sri Lanka in a two-match series at home that concluded on Monday. South Africa clean swept the series 2-0 to take the top spot in the 2023-25 WTC points table and move ahead of rivals India and South Africa in the race to qualify for the final. Despite the defeat Sri Lanka remain in contention with as many as five teams still alive.
WTC final qualification scenarios
Four teams including England, New Zealand, West Indies, Bangladesh are already out of final contention while Pakistan have a remote chance (depends on South Africa losing a point and other results going in their favour).
Here we take a look at the teams which can still make the cut: –
India (Remaining matches: 3 away Tests in Australia)
The two-time WTC runners-up suffered a major dent to final hopes when they were crushed 0-3 by New Zealand at home last month. They though started Australia tour with a bang winning Perth Test before their hosts drew level in Adelaide.
India have 57.29 points percentage (PCT) as of now. If they want to guarantee themselves a top-two finish on the WTC table in their own, Rohit Sharma’s men need to eke out two victories and a draw from their remaining three Tests. In that scenario, even if Australia go on to win 2-0 in Sri Lanka, it will not take their PCT beyond India. If India lose 2-3, they would then pray for South Africa to lose 0-2 to Pakistan at home and hope Australia not lose in Sri Lanka in order to make the final.
Australia (Remaining matches: 3 Tests at home vs India, 2 away Tests in Sri Lanka
Australia need two wins out of their remaining three Tests vs India to book a top-two finish. They can afford to lose both Tests in Sri Lanka as their PCT (55.26) would remain clear of both India and Sri Lanka. Losing 2-3 to India though would require them to beat Sri Lanka 2-0 or depend on the outcome of South Africa vs Pakistan Test series.
South Africa (Remaining matches: 2 Tests at home vs Pakistan)
Table toppers South Africa need to win one of their Tests against Pakistan at home to secure a maiden WTC final berth. If South Africa draw their final Test series of this WTC cycle 1-1, India beat Australia 3-2 and Australia beat Sri Lanka 2-0 then then both India and Australia will enter the final.
If Pakistan end up beating South Africa 1-0 then Temba Bavuma’s men will hope Australia record a maximum of two wins from their remaining Tests while India win only one of their remaining three Tests in Australia.
Sri Lanka (Remaining matches: 2 Tests at home vs Australia)
Sri Lanka cannot qualify on their own now. They first have to beat Australia 2-0 which will take their PCT to 53.85. For Australia to finish below Sri Lanka’s PCT, they will have to beat India 2-1. On the other hand, for South Africa to finish below Sri Lanka’s PCT, they will have to lose to Pakistan 2-0.
