Test cricket will be the source of entertainment for cricket fans over the next few months, with 15 out of 27 series yet to be played in this cycle.
With less than a year left for the World Test Championship final for the 2025-27 cycle, the longest format will be at the heart of the international cricket schedule for the next few months. Several teams are in contention to make it to the final at The Oval next year. However, England, Pakistan and West Indies are out of the race.
Updated WTC 2025-27 points table
Position | Team | Played | Won | Lost | Drawn | No Result | Deducted | Points | PCT |
1 | Australia | 8 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 84 | 87.5 |
2 | South Africa | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 36 | 75 |
3 | New Zealand | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 52 | 72.22 |
4 | Bangladesh | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 58.33 |
5 | India | 9 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 52 | 48.15 |
6 | Sri Lanka | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 41.67 |
7 | England | 13 | 4 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 14 | 38 | 24.36 |
8 | Pakistan | 6 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 16 | 22.22 |
9 | West Indies | 12 | 2 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 30 | 20.83 |
Here are the scenarios for each of the six teams to make the WTC final next year:
Australia
Current PCT - 87.5
Maximum PCT - 95.4
Remaining Series - 2 Tests vs BAN (home), 3 Tests vs SA (away), 4 Tests vs NZ (home), 5 Tests vs India (away)
Australia have a total of 14 Tests left to play in this cycle, the most among all teams. They are also on top of the table, having lost only one out of eight Tests played so far. They need at least 75 more points to end up with a PCT of 60, which converts to six wins and a draw. More wins will certainly take them closer to or beyond 65, which would definitely be enough to make the WTC final.
For that to happen, they will have to win in South Africa and India. Australia have lost their last three Tests in South Africa and won only two out of the last 15 in India. This certainly makes it challenging to reach the PCT of 65, even if they win all their remaining home Tests. However, 60 may be enough.
South Africa
Current PCT - 75
Maximum PCT - 92.85
Remaining Series - 3 Tests vs AUS (home), 2 Tests vs BAN (home), 3 Tests vs ENG (home), 2 Tests vs SL (away)
South Africa have a challenging schedule in this WTC cycle, but have done well in their two series so far. They drew 1-1 in Pakistan and routed India 2-0 in India. But among their four remaining series, the three Tests against Australia seem to be the toughest alongside the two in Sri Lanka.
The defending WTC champions need at least 65 more points to get to 60. Six wins out of the remaining 10 Tests will take them to 64.28, but five wins and a draw (59.52) might not be enough. While South Africa are expected to dominate the home series against Bangladesh, the series results against Australia and England are likely to eventually decide their fate. They also have the England series at home.
However, there is a chance that things go down to the wire and the final is still in play during their final series against Sri Lanka.
New Zealand
Current PCT - 72.22
Maximum PCT - 89.58
Remaining Series - 2 Tests vs IND (home), 4 Tests vs AUS (away), 2 Tests vs SL (home), 2 Tests vs PAK (away)
The inaugural WTC champions have won four of their last five Tests. A come-from-behind series win in England has kept them at third place, but they have an extremely tough schedule, with six away Tests left. These include four in Australia, where they last won a Test in December 2011. New Zealand have won three of their 34 Tests in the country.
They need at least 63 more points (five wins and a draw) to secure a PCT of 60, while six wins would take them to 64.58. Even if they win all four home Tests against India and Sri Lanka, New Zealand must find a way past Australia to keep their hopes of making the WTC final alive.
Bangladesh
Current PCT - 58.33 PCT
Maximum PCT - 86.11
Remaining Series - 2 Tests vs AUS (away), 2 Tests vs WI (home), 2 Tests vs SA (away), 2 Tests vs ENG (home)
Bangladesh beat Pakistan 2-0 at home in their previous series but tougher tests await them in the rest of the cycle. They have two Tests in each of Australia and South Africa, while England are also set to tour Bangladesh for the first time since 2016. They also host the West Indies.
They need at least 59 more points to go beyond 60. For that, they must win five of their remaining eight Tests. Four wins and two draws would take Bangladesh’s PCT to 58.33, which may not be enough. They will have to play out of their skins for the rest of the league stage to shock the other teams, but at least they have the best possible start for it.
India
Current PCT - 48.15
Maximum PCT - 74.07
Remaining Series- 2 Tests vs SL (away), 2 Tests vs NZ (away), 5 Tests vs AUS (home)
India have very little margin for error if they are to make the WTC final. They have nine Tests left, two in each of Sri Lanka and New Zealand and five at home against Australia. Though they have lost only two out of the last 15 home Tests against Australia, their recent record as hosts has nosedived: they were blanked out by New Zealand (0-3) and South Africa (0-2).
India must win at least seven out of their nine remaining Tests to go past the PCT of 60. Even if they overtake Sri Lanka in the upcoming two-match series, a tougher assignment awaits them in New Zealand, where India last won a Test back in 2009. Shubman Gill and his men certainly have an uphill task over the next few months in the whites, with the race to make the WTC final getting intense.
Sri Lanka
Current PCT - 41.67
Maximum PCT - 80.55
Remaining Series - 2 Tests vs IND home, 2 Tests vs PAK away, 2 Tests vs NZ away, 2 Tests vs SA home - 8 WTC Tests left
Sri Lanka have four series left in this WTC cycle, including four at home against India and South Africa. They will want to make the most of these, but any setbacks against India in Pakistan and New Zealand may seal their fates sealed before the Proteas even arrive.
To end up with a PCT of more than 60, Sri Lanka need at least 67 more points, which converts to five wins and two draws (61.11). Six wins will take them PCT to 63.88, but five wins and a draw would keep them at 58.33, which may not be enough.
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