The World Test Championship (WTC) is a competition for test cricket teams. It started in 2019-2021 when the ICC decided to make a championship for test matches. The goal was to keep fans excited about test cricket, which is the longest and oldest format of the game.
World Test Championship (2023-2025) – Points Table (as of Dec 9, 2024)
| Team | Mat | Won | Lost | Draw | Points | PCT |
| SA | 10 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 76 | 63.33 |
| AUS | 14 | 9 | 4 | 1 | 102 | 60.71 |
| IND | 16 | 9 | 6 | 1 | 110 | 57.29 |
| SL | 11 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 60 | 45.45 |
| ENG | 21 | 11 | 9 | 1 | 114 | 45.24 |
| NZ | 13 | 6 | 7 | 0 | 69 | 44.23 |
| PAK | 10 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 40 | 33.33 |
| BAN | 12 | 4 | 8 | 0 | 45 | 31.25 |
| WI | 11 | 2 | 7 | 2 | 32 | 24.24 |
The WTC happens over two years, and each team plays six series. Out of these, three are at home, and the other three are away.
How Points Work in WTC?
- Win: 12 points
- Draw: 4 points
- Tie: 6 points
To decide the rankings, teams are measured using a system called Points Percentage (PCT):
- PCT = (Points won / Points available) × 100
Concerns About the WTC Format
There are some issues with the WTC format:
- Uneven matches: Big teams like India, England, and Australia play more test matches than smaller teams. Some teams only play 10-12 matches in the two-year cycle.
- Away matches: In the first WTC, New Zealand made it to the final without playing any away series.
- One-match final: Many teams feel that deciding the champion with just one match is not fair.
The Current WTC Race (2023-2025)
South Africa’s recent 2-0 series win against Sri Lanka has changed the competition. Now, the race for the final is between just three teams:
- South Africa
- India
- Australia
The final match will be played at Lord’s in June 2025.
What Teams Need to Do?
South Africa: They are close to qualifying. If they win one more match against Pakistan, they will secure their spot in the top two of the table, important for making it to the final.
India and Australia: These two teams are fighting for the other spot in the tabele. They need to win their remaining matches to stay in the race.
The WTC is getting more exciting as the final approaches. Who will make it to Lord’s? To know more, visit 96in.com for further news, analysis, stats, odds, and experts opinions and lot more.
WTC 2023-2025 scenario for teams
Race to qualification for the World Test Championship finals 2023-2025 cycle is getting interesting. Here are the things needed for each team.
South Africa
South Africa is now at the top of the table with 63.33%. They turned things around with five wins in a row after starting slow. To make it to the final:
- One win against Pakistan: Guarantees a spot.
- Two wins against Pakistan: Likely to finish as table toppers.
- Lose both matches: They might miss the final if India or Australia do well.
Since South Africa has fewer matches compared to other teams, every win or loss changes their percentage more.
Australia
Australia was on top after their big win against England in Adelaide. But South Africa’s victory pushed them to second. To qualify:
- Win 2 out of 3 matches against India: This should secure their spot.
- Draw Border-Gavaskar series 2-2: They need at least one win against Sri Lanka.
- Lose 2-3 to India: They must win both matches against Sri Lanka to qualify.
If Australia performs well in Sri Lanka, they won’t have to depend on South Africa’s results.
India
India has had a tough time recently, with four losses in their last five games. They need to step up to secure a place in the final:
- Win 2 and draw 1 against Australia: This avoids depending on other results.
- Win Border-Gavaskar 2-1: Australia can still overtake them if they beat Sri Lanka 2-0.
- Series ends 2-2: India needs to hope Australia doesn’t win in Sri Lanka.
If India loses the series 1-3 or worse, they won’t make it to the final. A 3-2 loss might still work if South Africa loses both matches to Pakistan.
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka’s chances dropped after losing to South Africa. They still have a slim shot if these things happen:
- Beat Australia 2-0 to finish with 53.85%.
- South Africa loses both matches to Pakistan and ends with 52.78%.
- Border-Gavaskar ends 2-1, and Australia and India both stay below 53.85%.
Which team will reach WTC finals 2025?
South Africa looks strong and there are high chances that they will reach the WTC finals 2025, but India and Australia are fighting hard to take the second spot. BGT’s remaining test games are crucial for India as their result will decide, which team will face South Africa in the finals. For Australia, they still have to play 2 tests against Sri Lanka as well.
Can South Africa stay on top, or will India or Australia surprise everyone?
Cricket is a game of unexpected outcomes, you never know which team and what day any team can outperform. For more updates, visit 96in.com, 96in com, 96in, 96in.com login, 96.in com, or download the 96in.com app.
