DUBAI: England’s dominant 3-0 series triumph over Pakistan was confirmed on Tuesday and it has left Babar Azam’s side needing a host of results to go their way to have any chance of reaching next year’s ICC World Test Championship final.
Ben Stokes’ side needed less than one hour on the fourth day to knock off the required runs for victory in Karachi and in the process put a further nail in Pakistan’s already slim hopes of reaching next year’s World Test Championship decider.
But they can still feature in next year’s final at The Oval if a host of results go their way, but they will need lots of help from a large amount of sides if they are to sneak in.
According to ICC report, a total of six sides can still feature in the World Test Championship final and here is what needs to happen for your team to make it.
First – Australia – 76.92% of possible points
Remaining series: South Africa (home, two Tests), India (away, four Tests)
Best possible percentage finish: 84.21%
Australia are in the box seat to qualify for their first World Test Championship final, with Pat Cummins’ side currently holding a healthy lead at the top of the standings.
Fresh from a dominant performance in the first Test against South Africa, Australia have two more matches at home against the Proteas in Melbourne and Sydney ahead in which they will be confident of performing well in given their current rich vein of form.
Four Tests in India for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in February and March next year will be Australia’s final assignment this period, but they may almost have their place in the final wrapped up prior should everything go their way on home soil.
Second – India – 55.77% of possible points
Remaining series: Bangladesh (away, one Test), Australia (home, four Tests)
Best possible percentage finish: 68.06%
Even with a host of key players on the sidelines through injury, India cruised to an easy victory over Bangladesh away from home and will be keen for a series sweep in the second Test in Mirpur.
India will be hoping veteran skipper Rohit Sharma will recover from his thumb injury in time to feature in this clash and a positive result against Shakib Al Hasan’s side will have the Asian side well placed for a top-two finish.
They will need to produce some good results during their series against pacesetters Australia if they are to make it back-to-back appearances in the World Test Championship final though, so there is still plenty of cricket that India must navigate through.
Third – South Africa – 54.55% of possible points
Remaining series: Australia (away, two Tests), West Indies (home, two Tests)
Best possible percentage finish: 69.77%
Losing a Test match inside two days is never good news and South Africa suffered a further blow after their six-wicket loss to Australia when they dropped out of a top-two place and were replaced by India in second spot on the World Test Championship standings.
The good news for Dean Elgar’s side is they still have an opportunity to reclaim their place inside the top two, but they must hit back quickly during their ongoing series in Australia.
South Africa do have the luxury of two matches at home against the West Indies in February and March, but they will want to make sure they don’t leave themselves with too much to do by the time that series comes around.
Fourth – Sri Lanka – 53.33% of possible points
Remaining series: New Zealand (away, two Tests)
Best possible percentage finish: 61.11%
One of the big winners from recent Tests has been Sri Lanka, who have had their chances of an inaugural appearance in the World Test Championship final improved without even playing a match.
Regardless of other results between now and next year’s final, Sri Lanka are still going to have to win all their remaining Test matches this period to have any hope of featuring.
Just one series remains for Sri Lanka – a two-Test trip to New Zealand in March – where they have won just twice in 19 attempts.
Maximum points in New Zealand would take them to 61.1%, meaning they’ll be hoping Australia can continue on their winning ways and they can sneak into second place with two wins over the Kiwis.
Fifth – England – 46.97% of possible points (out of contention)
Remaining series: Nil
Best possible percentage finish: 46.97%
While England are one of the form teams of the current World Test Championship period, poor results early in the period means they can no longer qualify.
They put an end to Pakistan’s hopes with a victory in the third and final Test in Karachi and will surely be one of the favourites heading into the next World Test Championship period.
Sixth – West Indies – 40.91% of possible points
Remaining series: South Africa (away, two Tests)
Best possible percentage finish: 50%
Just two Tests remain for the West Indies, with their recent 2-0 series loss to Australia leaving Kraigg Brathwaite’s side with little chance of progressing.
If they did manage to defeat South Africa 2-0 in their remaining two Test matches then they could sneak into second place should other results fall their way.
Seventh – Pakistan – 38.89% of possible points
Remaining series: New Zealand (home, two Tests)
Best possible percentage finish: 47.62%
If Pakistan can win their final two Test matches this period – they host New Zealand in a quickfire series that commences later this month – they can finish with a win-percentage as high as 47.62 percent.
That could be enough for them to finish in front of seven other sides and claim second place on the final standings, but this is what also needs to occur:
– Australia will be their best ally as they will require Pat Cummins side to continue on their winning ways against South Africa and then next year against India
– They will need Bangladesh to do them a favour and cause a huge upset by defeating India in their 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 require 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 as a draw (this would ensure both sides finish lower than Pakistan on the standings).
Eighth – New Zealand – 25.93% of possible points (out of contention)
Remaining series: Pakistan (away, two Tests), Sri Lanka (home, two Tests)
Best possible percentage finish: 48.72%
While New Zealand still have four Tests remaining this period, they won’t be able to defend the World Test Championship mace they won at Lord’s last year.
They could put the final nail in the coffin for both Pakistan and Sri Lanka during their upcoming series.
Ninth – Bangladesh – 12.12% of possible points (out of contention)
Remaining series: India (home, one Test)
Best possible percentage finish: 19.44%
It’s been a very disappointing campaign for Bangladesh thus far, with the Asian side all but certain to finish on the bottom of the standings.
Their final match of the current period comes in Mirpur against India and they will be hoping to reverse the result from the first Test of the series in Chattogram.
