South Africa has no worries. After defeating Pakistan, they have already secured their place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final. Now, they’re just waiting for their opponent. Three teams are still in the race: Australia, India, and Sri Lanka.
Following their win in the Melbourne Test, Australia currently has the upper hand in this race. But what are the scenarios for each team? Let’s break it down:
Australia
If Australia wins the final Test of the series in Sydney, their place in the WTC final is guaranteed. Even if they don’t win in Sydney, a single victory in their two-match series against Sri Lanka would still secure their spot. In short, Pat Cummins’ team needs just one win out of their remaining three matches.
Currently, Australia holds 61.46% of the points. If they win the Sydney Test but lose to Sri Lanka, their percentage will drop to 57.02%. In that case, Sri Lanka would have 53.85%, and India would stand at 50%.
If the Sydney Test ends in a draw, Australia will still remain ahead of India. However, this outcome increases Sri Lanka’s chances. If Sri Lanka defeats Australia 2-0 at home, they will qualify for the final. Sri Lanka’s points would then rise to 53.85%, while Australia’s would fall to 53.51%.
India
India must win the Sydney Test to stay in the race. If they fail, they will be eliminated from contention. Even if India wins in Sydney, their fate will depend on the Australia-Sri Lanka series. They will need Australia to lose all their matches. A win in Sydney would raise India’s points to 55.26%.
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka will be eliminated from the race before the Australia series begins unless the Sydney Test ends in a draw. If the Sydney Test is drawn, Sri Lanka can still qualify by defeating Australia 2-0 at home. In that case, Sri Lanka’s points percentage would climb to 53.85%, giving them a shot at the final.
The battle for the WTC final is heating up, and each match will be crucial for these three teams.
