With one match remaining in the three-match Test series, New Zealand have conceded a series loss to England. The visitors blew past the opposition in stunning fashion in Wellington. Harry Brook and Joe Root scored centuries while Gus Atkinson took a Test hat-trick to curb any hopes that the hosts might have had of reaching the World Test Championship final.

Tom Latham’s side, winners of the inaugural World Test Championship, were involved in the qualification mix after recording a historic series whitewash in India. However, the chances of making it to the final took a serious hit after they lost the first Test against England in Christchurch by eight wickets.

A three-point penalty for slow over-rate in the first Test made their situation worse as they dropped to fifth in the table. After the result of the second Test in Wellington, it is mathematically impossible for New Zealand to qualify for the World Test Championship 2023-25 final.

Test victory. Series victory. pic.twitter.com/kEtytT6sMM

— England Cricket (@englandcricket) December 8, 2024

New Zealand are sixth in the World Test Championship 2023-25 table

Following the massive 323-run loss, their seventh defeat in 13 Tests in this cycle, New Zealand are now sixth in the standings. With wins in six Tests, the Blackcaps have collected 69 points and have a 44.23 PCT. Even if they win the final Test against England in Hamilton, New Zealand will only be able to finish with 48.21 PCT - well below the all-important 60.0 PCT mark.

The likes of Australia, South Africa and India continue to be the favourites to qualify with all three sides having a PCT of over 55.0. Even if India lose all their remaining Tests, they will have a PCT of 48.25, just ahead of New Zealand's maximum. All the other teams in contention - South Africa, Sri Lanka, and Australia - could yet fall below that mark, but because Sri Lanka play the other two sides, it's not possible for all three to at once. South Africa need one win from three games to stay above New Zealand, so for New Zealand to stay ahead of the Proteas, Sri Lanka must avoid defeat in the second Test between the sides which is ongoing. However, then, even if India win the last three Border-Gavaskar Trophy Tests, whatever the result of the Sri Lanka-Australia series, one of the two teams will stay above New Zealand.

Australia climbed back to the top of the WTC table after defeating India by 10 wickets in the second Test in Adelaide and the Men in Blue, finalists in the last two WTC cycles, are now third. South Africa occupy second place in the standings.

New Zealand’s opponents England also do not have a chance of progressing to the final. Despite winning their 11th Test in this cycle in Wellington, they are fifth in the table and a win in the final Test will see them finishing with 47.73 PCT which won’t be enough to secure qualification.