Who Can Challenge India and Australia for the WTC Final Spot?

Test cricket will be in the spotlight in the coming months as teams vie for crucial points to qualify for the World Test Championship final next year. 

With only 13 of 27 series completed in the 2023-25 cycle, many teams still have a chance to climb the points table.

Here's a snapshot of how teams are positioned in the race for a top-two finish.

India

Points: 68.52%, Remaining Series: Bangladesh (2 home Tests), New Zealand (3 home Tests), Australia (5 away Tests)

India tops the WTC table, having earned 68.52% of available points so far (74 out of 108 from nine Tests). They face a challenging tour of Australia in November, but before that, they have five home Tests against Bangladesh and New Zealand.

To secure a final spot with a score above 60%—they qualified with 58.8% in 2023—India needs 63 points from the 120 available in these 10 Tests. 

With each win earning 12 points and a draw 4 points, five wins and a draw would give them 64 points, keeping them above 60% (assuming no point deductions for slow over rates or other issues).

Australia

Percentage: 62.50%, Remaining Series: India (5 home Tests), Sri Lanka (2 away Tests)

Australia, along with the West Indies, is one of the few teams to have completed four of their six series in this cycle. They currently hold 62.5% of the points.

Their final position will depend heavily on their performance against India at home, as India has won their last four Test series against Australia, including two on Australian soil.

To end above 60%, Australia needs 47 more points from seven Tests. They can achieve this with four wins or three wins and three draws.