The Proteas reached the promised land with a heart-stopping two-wicket win against Pakistan, and the Border-Gavaskar Trophy Boxing Day Test could yet provide a similarly special finish. Heading into the final day, Australia lead by 333 with one wicket in hand.

It’s an equation that keeps all four results in play. The third Test of the series was drawn, though that game was heavily rain-affected. Rain has fallen at the MCG as well, but a good batting surface and excellent innings from the likes of Sam Konstas and Nitish Kumar Reddy have been the bigger factors in keeping the stalemate a possibility.

Should the Test be drawn, it would leave the series poised at 1-1 heading into the decider, and would also leave the WTC final race delicately poised as well. Australia are currently in second place on a points percentage of 58.89, while India are narrowly behind on 55.88. A draw would keep the two sides in the same positions, with Australia dropping to 57.29 and India to 54.63 - before any potential points penalties come into effect.

Should the game be drawn, it would mean an Australia victory in the final Test would eliminate India from WTC contention. India would be on a points percentage of 51.75 in that case, and whatever the result in Australia’s final series against Sri Lanka, one of those teams would end above the 2021 and 2023 finalists. Sri Lanka would finish second with a 2-0 win over Australia, while any other result would see Australia make the Lord’s showpiece.

Should India win at the SCG, it would knock Sri Lanka out of contention - India would be on a points percentage of 57.02, ahead of Sri Lanka’s maximum of 53.85. But they would still need a favour from their fellow Asian side. Should Australia lose the final Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test but win 2-0 in Sri Lanka, they would reach a points percentage of 58.77, just ahead of India.

Should the final Test also be drawn, India would end up on a points percentage of 53.51, which would bring Sri Lanka back into it. In that case, a 2-0 win for Sri Lanka over Australia would see Sri Lanka join South Africa in the final, while a 1-0 win for Sri Lanka would send India through. Australia would need to win one of the two Tests in Sri Lanka to see themselves into second. A 0-0 draw, meanwhile, would see Australia and India tied on points percentage. The first tiebreaker in that case is number of series wins, which would work in India’s favour. Australia have won just two WTC series until now, against New Zealand and Pakistan, with draws against West Indies and England. India have won three, in West Indies and at home against Bangladesh and England.