World Test Championship: The road ahead for teams chasing final berth
Australia currently lead the competition and are well placed to reach the 2023 decider, but there are still a number of teams in contention to reach the final.
Heading into the final stages of the cycle, here's how your team is positioned.
Remaining series: South Africa (home, three Tests), India (away, four Tests)
**Best possible percentage finish:**84.21%
**Worst possible percentage finish:**47.37%
After claiming maximum points from two Tests against the West Indies, Australia have arguably their biggest tests ahead of them in the World Test Championship cycle.
Not only will South Africa provide a stiffer opposition than Kraigg Brathwaite's side earlier in the summer, Pat Cummins' men will likely need a strong showing during next year's tour of India. A win or two or even gritty draws could keep them in the top two, though they have not won a Test series in India since 2004, and face a buoyant current crop led by Rohit Sharma.
The team are also sweating on the fitness of Josh Hazlewood, who will miss at least one match against the Proteas, and will want an uptick in form from opening batter David Warner.
Remaining series: Australia (away, three Tests), West Indies (home, two Tests)
Best possible percentage finish: 73.33%
**Worst possible percentage finish:**40%
A 2-1 series loss to England away from home saw the Proteas lose top spot on the World Test Championship standings, although they still remain in a strong position to reach next year's final.
Their away series against Australia will be crucial to the fortunes of both sides, though history is on the Proteas side, having won the last three series between the teams in Australia. South Africa's pace artillery should enjoy Brisbane and the new life in the Melbourne wicket for the Boxing Day Test, and another series win would put Dean Elgar's men in pole position.
South Africa host West Indies for two Tests next year that would likely determine the final places.
Remaining series: New Zealand (away, two Tests)
**Best possible percentage finish:**61.11%
**Worst possible percentage finish:**44%
While Sri Lanka are seemingly well-placed to reach the World Test Championship final, they will require everything to go their way if they are to qualify for the decider.
Just one series remains for Sri Lanka - a two-Test trip to New Zealand in March - where they have won just twice in 19 attempts.
Maximum points in New Zealand would take them to 61.1%, meaning they'll need help from the unfancied sides further down the table just to finish in the top two.
Remaining series: Bangladesh (away, two Tests), Australia (home, four Tests)
**Best possible percentage finish:**68.06%
**Worst possible percentage finish:**34.72%
Rohit Sharma's side are in Bangladesh for two Test matches beginning on Wednesday, and a positive result during that series will leave the upcoming battle for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy as potentially one of the biggest for many years.
India do have an excellent recent record at home against Australia and will be confident of doing enough to win that series and qualify for a second consecutive World Test Championship final.
While a potential India/Pakistan final has been extinguished by Pakistan's home series defeat to England, the result knocks out one competitor in India's race to the final, and the Australia-South Africa series means the top two could eat away at each other's points.
It means that India should also have a clear idea of just what they need come the home series against the Aussie.
Remaining series: Pakistan (away, one of three Tests remaining)
Best possible percentage finish: 46.97%
**Worst possible percentage finish:**42.42%
England had been all but eliminated before their away trip to Pakistan, though they've managed to spoil the party for Babar Azam's side and recent results suggest the next World Test Championship Cycle could be theirs.
At one stage stuck at the bottom of the table, England gave themselves too much to do after an unsuccessful Ashes series at the start of this year, though the rebuild is well and truly on with Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum's simple game plan backed by a capable team.
Remaining series: England (home, one of three Tests remaining), New Zealand (home, two Tests)
**Best possible percentage finish:**54.76%
**Worst possible percentage finish:**33.33%
Pakistan are now languishing in sixth place on the current standings, with their campaign dashed by England's swift approach. Even with a third Test win against England and a clean sweep against New Zealand, the side are realistically out of the race.
The side have shown glimpses for the next cycle, merely 10 minutes away from holding on to a draw in Rawalpindi, and only falling to a 26-run defeat in Multan, clawing back despite the English batting barrage.
We'll see more of Abrar Ahmed after his stunning debut, as well as 27-year-old Saud Shakeel who made the most of his opportunity, making half-centuries in three of four innings across the first two England Tests.
Remaining series: South Africa (away, two Tests)
**Best possible percentage finish:**50%
**Worst possible percentage finish:**34.62%
The West Indies had hopes deep into their Championship campaign, only to fall in a disappointing collapse in Australia, losing 2-0 in the Frank Worrell Trophy. It means that their only impact in the competition would be to spoil South Africa's campaign on the road, though the Proteas will be red-hot favourites to claim maximum points.
Distancing themselves from the bottom of the table with a series win over England and a clean sweep against Bangladesh, there were several positive signs in the campaign for skipper Kraigg Brathwaite, even if it felt like a solo charge with the bat.
Brathwaite's 948 runs at 49.89 is by far and away the most by a West Indies player in the cycle, though there were positive signs shown by Tagenarine Chanderpaul, who averages 40 across his first four Test innings, all against a fierce Australian attack.
The bowling load has been carried by several members of the group, though the depth may be tested in South Africa after numerous injuries plagued their Australian tour.
Remaining series: Pakistan (away, two Tests), Sri Lanka (home, two Tests)
**Best possible percentage finish:**48.72%
**Worst possible percentage finish:**17.95%
It’s been a death by a thousand cuts for the 2021 champions, who fell to Bangladesh at home, saw Ross Taylor bow out of the international game, and had their captain Kane Williamson sidelined with elbow trouble.
The Black Caps can only finish with the best percentage of 48.72%, well short of what's needed to feature in next year's final.
Remaining series: India (home, two Tests)
**Best possible percentage finish:**27.78%
**Worst possible percentage finish:**11.11%
Bangladesh are a leading light in One Day International cricket, though the longest format has not been the Tigers' forte, with shaky batting preventing any World Test Championship push.
Batters in the team occupy just two of the top-40 run-scorers in the cycle, with Litton Das (883 runs at 49.05) and Mushfiqur Rahim (539 at 49.00) the only players to make any mark in the competition.
The side have not won a Test match at home in the competition thus far, though did surprise New Zealand in Mount Maunganui.
Bangladesh will be looking to surprise when they host India from December 14.