 "WTC points table: South Africa through to final; India, Australia chances")
The ICC World Test Championship 2023-25 cycle has finally found its first finalist, as table-toppers South Africa beat Pakistan in the first of the two-match Test series at SuperSport Park in Centurion to take their points percentage to 66.66 per cent. Even if they lose the second Test against Pakistan in Cape Town, their points percentage will only drop to 61.11 per cent, which at least two of the three teams remaining in the WTC 2023-25 qualification race—Australia, India, and Sri Lanka—will fail to surpass, regardless of their remaining results. This will be only the second ICC tournament final for South Africa. Their first was the 2024 ICC T20 World Cup final, which they lost by seven runs to India. The Proteas will now wait for the other finalist, who will challenge them for the WTC mace at Lord’s in June 2025.
ICC World Test Championship 2023-25 points table
| Pos | Team | Matches | Won | Lost | Drawn | NR | Points | PCT |
| 1 | South Africa (Q) | 11 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 88 | 66.67% |
| 2 | Australia | 16 | 10 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 118 | 62.11% |
| 3 | India | 18 | 9 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 114 | 52.77% |
| 4 | New Zealand (E) | 14 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 81 | 48.21% |
| 5 | Sri Lanka (E) | 11 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 60 | 45.45% |
| 6 | England (E) | 22 | 11 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 114 | 43.18% |
| 7 | Bangladesh (E) | 12 | 4 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 45 | 31.25% |
| 8 | Pakistan (E) | 11 | 4 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 40 | 30.30% |
| 9 | West Indies (E) | 11 | 2 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 32 | 24.24% |
India’s qualification scenario
India are on the verge of getting eliminated after losing at Melbourne, but If India wins the final Test against Australia in Sydney, they will finish with 55.26 percentage points and need Sri Lanka to beat Australia 2-0 to qualify for the WTC 2023-25 final against South Africa. A draw or loss in Sydney will eliminate India from the WTC final race, irrespective of the Australia vs Sri Lanka series outcome.
Australia’s qualification scenario
If Australia beat India in the ongoing five-match series by 2-1 or 3-1, they will become the second team in the WTC 2023-25 final.
If they draw the series 2-2, they will need to win or draw at least one match against Sri Lanka to qualify.
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