Australia topped the ICC World Take a look at Championship (WTC) standings whereas India slipped to quantity three after the guests succumbed to a 10-wicket loss to the Aussies through the second Take a look at at Adelaide Oval. As the present 2023-25 WTC cycle reaches its finish, every match could have extreme implications. A win or loss by one crew might spoil the celebration for the opposite. Allow us to take a look on the present state of play within the ICC WTC 2023-25 cycle.
1). Australia – 60.71 per cent of potential factors
Remaining matches: India (dwelling, three Checks), Sri Lanka (away, two Checks)
Very best end: 67.65 p.c
It has been a intently fought contest between Australia and India to stay within the high two of the WTC25 standings. The reigning World Take a look at Championship winners Australia, who had regained the highest spot after India’s collection loss to New Zealand, slipped after they misplaced in Perth with India reaching the highest.
South Africa’s win within the first Take a look at in opposition to Sri Lanka pushed them all the way down to quantity three. Nonetheless, a dominating win within the pink-ball Take a look at in Adelaide have propelled them to the highest as soon as once more.
With the Border-Gavaskar collection now tied at 1-1, Australia are in a robust place for a high two end. They can even tour Sri Lanka subsequent 12 months for an extra two Checks, which means they might theoretically draw 2-2 with India and keep in rivalry for a spot within the remaining, as per ICC.
2). South Africa – 59.26 p.c of potential factors
Remaining matches: Sri Lanka (dwelling, one Take a look at), Pakistan (dwelling, two Checks)
Finest Doable End: 69.44 p.c
Carrying on the shape from their spectacular collection win over Bangladesh within the sub-continent to dwelling, South Africa secured an excellent win over Sri Lanka within the opening Take a look at of their dwelling season. This has helped them overtake Australia, New Zealand, and Sri Lanka to safe the second spot within the WTC Standings.
The next three video games are extraordinarily essential for South Africa, for in the event that they proceed this profitable run, they are going to be safely positioned to make the World Take a look at Championship no matter how the opposite sides fare.
3). India – 57.29 p.c of potential factors
Remaining matches: Australia (away, three Checks)
Very best end: 64.04 p.c
After an unprecedented 3-0 collection whitewash at dwelling in October in opposition to New Zealand which pushed them down a spot within the WTC desk, India bounced again within the race for Lord’s title conflict with a complete win in Australia.
An all-round show from the batters and the bowlers in Perth has rekindled India’s hopes for a 3rd straight look within the WTC Last. Nonetheless, their hopes had been dashed after they suffered a 10-wicket loss by the hands of Australia within the second Take a look at, which compelled them to slide to quantity three within the Standings.
It might not be simple however just isn’t unimaginable as India must win all of their three matches to make sure qualification.
4). Sri Lanka – 50 p.c of potential factors
Remaining matches: South Africa (away, one Take a look at), Australia (dwelling, two Checks)
Finest Doable End: 61.54 p.c
A head-turning victory over England within the third Take a look at in England adopted by a 2-0 whitewash of New Zealand at dwelling was the spotlight of Sri Lanka’s latest Take a look at returns, and the island nation went to South Africa confidently.
Nonetheless, an enormous loss in Durban signifies that the Asian facet must recalibrate its method and bounce again within the second Take a look at of the collection.
If Sri Lanka can pinch a victory within the second Take a look at, it might nonetheless result in a grandstand end on dwelling soil with the highest two spots probably nonetheless to be determined within the remaining collection of the cycle.
5). England – 45.24 p.c of potential factors
Remaining matches: New Zealand (away, one Take a look at)
Very best end: 47.73 p.c
Whereas a rampant dwelling season had sparked some hopes for England, consecutive losses in Pakistan has seen them drop out of rivalry for a spot at subsequent 12 months’s remaining.
They started their remaining outing within the WTC, a three-match collection in opposition to the Black Caps in direction of the tip of November on a constructive notice with an eight-wicket win. After which adopted it up with an enormous 323-win within the second Take a look at, thereby taking an unassailable 2-0 lead within the collection.
6). New Zealand – 44.23 p.c of potential factors
Remaining matches: England (dwelling, one Take a look at)
Very best end: 48.21 p.c
A historic collection sweep in India had bolstered New Zealand’s hope of claiming a second World Take a look at Championship title however their possibilities took a extreme hit following a loss to Ben Stokes’ England within the first Take a look at in Christchurch.
New Zealand’s hopes had been additional dented after they had been penalised three factors for a gradual over-rate within the first Take a look at. Because of this, they dropped to fifth within the standings, having beforehand shared fourth place with Sri Lanka.
The Black Caps’ points continued after they suffered an enormous defeat within the second Take a look at in Wellington, shedding by 323 runs and slipping to sixth within the standings as England overtook them.
Even when they win the remaining Take a look at, New Zealand can’t breach the all-important 60 per cent level share mark on the World Take a look at Championship desk and have successfully crashed out of the finals’ race.
7). Pakistan – 33.33 p.c of potential factors
Remaining matches: South Africa (away, two Checks), West Indies (dwelling, two Checks)
Finest Doable End: 52.38 p.c
Pakistan have gained back-to-back Checks beneath the watchful eye of recent coach Jason Gillespie, however stay out of rivalry of reaching the ultimate with a complete of six groups forward of them on the standings.
Whereas Pakistan might nonetheless win their remaining 4 Checks and end with a share as excessive as 52.38 p.c, that is unlikely to be sufficient to complete within the high two locations on the standings.
They subsequent play South Africa on the finish of December after which will welcome West Indies dwelling for 2 Checks in January subsequent 12 months.
8). Bangladesh – 31.25 p.c of potential factors
Remaining matches: Nil
Finest Doable End: 31.25 p.c
The Asian facet completed their marketing campaign on a excessive with a formidable 101-run victory over the West Indies that helped them off the underside of the World Take a look at Championship standings.
Whereas it has been a comparatively disappointing cycle for Bangladesh, they are going to be buoyed by the actual fact they gained three Take a look at matches away from dwelling that included a collection sweep over Pakistan earlier this 12 months.
That offers Bangladesh some hope for the following cycle, although they’ll wish to discover some extra constant outcomes on dwelling soil.
9). West Indies – 24.24 p.c of potential factors
Remaining matches: Pakistan (away, two matches)
Finest Doable End: 35.90 p.c
Inconsistency has plagued the West Indies for a lot of the present cycle, with a few of their greatest moments typically adopted by disappointing efforts.
The spotlight thus far was their second of glory in opposition to Australia in Brisbane in early 2024, whereas their latest conquer Bangladesh at dwelling within the first Take a look at confirmed what they’re able to when producing their greatest cricket.
A batting collapse within the first innings of the second Take a look at in opposition to Bangladesh proved an excessive amount of for the West Indies to overturn as they fell to a 101-run loss in Jamaica to drop to ninth place on the standings, however they at the least get the prospect to complete on a excessive with a two-match collection in Pakistan early in 2025.
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