World Test Championship - State of Play ahead of 2025 final

Test cricket is back at the helm, but the fans' interest will be on the rise knowing that the upcoming contests will play a crucial role in determining the WTC fate of several sides.

In Australia, the top two sides on the points table — Australia and India — will clash in a marquee five-game Border-Gavaskar Test series beginning 22nd November. The hosts will seek to secure their second successive final, while India will look to overcome the recent downturn against New Zealand and bounce back.

On 27th November, Sri Lanka will begin their two-Test series in South Africa. While the Asian side, placed third in the WTC Standings, are riding high on a 2-0 series win over New Zealand at home, the Proteas (at the fifth place) are buoyed by a perfect outing in Bangladesh and will look at the upcoming home contests to improve their WTC position.

England and New Zealand also engage in a three-game series beginning 28th November, where the Kiwis will look to make a push for Lord's.

Bangladesh will visit the West Indies for a two-game Test series starting on 22nd November, where both the sides will look to improve their WTC returns.

Things are tight at the top of the ICC World Test Championship standings with less than 10 percent separating the top five teams.

World Test Championship Standings

First - Australia - 62.50% of possible points

Remaining series: India (home, five Tests), Sri Lanka (away, two Tests)

Best possible finish: 76.32%

Reigning World Test Championship winners Australia regained the spot after India's series loss to New Zealand and are on track for a second consecutive appearance in the final. However, Pat Cummins' side will likely still need to win a minimum of four of their remaining seven Tests if they are to defend the title they won in 2023.

The one advantage that Australia have over India is they have two Tests in Sri Lanka next year, meaning they could theoretically draw 2-2 with Rohit Sharma's side and stay in contention for a place in the final ahead of that trip to Asia.

But first things first for Australia, who have a poor recent record at home against India and will be keen to regain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy for the first time in over a decade.

Remaining World Test Championship Fixtures

Second - India - 58.33% of possible points

Remaining series: Australia (away, five Tests)

Best possible finish: 69.30%

The two-time World Test Championship runners-up were looking pretty for a place at next year's final but an unprecedented 3-0 series whitewash at home against New Zealand has hit the side's chances.

With the 25-run loss to the Black Caps in Mumbai, Rohit Sharma's team slipped below Australia and will now travel to the country next month needing to win at least four of their matches Down Under to ensure qualification.

With a third straight WTC final on the line, India will need to tighten up their game against a top-quality Australia side.

Third - Sri Lanka - 55.56% of possible points

Remaining Series: South Africa (away, Two Tests), Australia (home, two Tests)

Best Possible Finish: 69.23%

A head-turning victory over England in the third Test in England means Sri Lanka could still make a push for a World Test Championship Final berth with three more wins from their remaining four Tests.

Their task will be difficult, with two Tests scheduled in South Africa at the end of November and a further two-match series at home against reigning champions Australia in 2025.

Kamindu Mendis' stunning start to his Test career has helped the Sri Lankan side, averaging 94.30 in his first 12 innings in the competition. With the ball, Prabath Jayasuriya will remain the key, particularly in the final series on home soil.

If Sri Lanka can pinch one victory in South Africa, it could lead to a grandstand finish on home soil with the top two spots potentially still to be decided in the final series of the cycle.

Fourth - New Zealand - 54.55% of possible points

Remaining series: England (home, three Tests)

Best possible finish: 64.29%

A historic series sweep in India has bolstered New Zealand's hope of claiming a second World Test Championship title, but they still have plenty of work to do at home if they are to finish in the top two places in the standings.

The Black Caps will likely need at least one win in their remaining three Tests to try and make it through to the final. This will mean repeating their whitewash in India at home against a strong England side led by Ben Stokes.

The Kiwis have the winning momentum but will need to make the most of it.

Fifth - South Africa - 54.17% of possible points

Remaining series: Sri Lanka (home, two Tests), Pakistan (home, two Tests)

Best possible finish: 69.44%

South Africa ended a decade-long wait for a win in the sub-continent with an impressive victory in the opening game, then followed it up with an even more commanding display in the second match, winning by a colossal innings and 273 runs.

The 2-0 series whitewash over Bangladesh has given South Africa hope of reaching next year's World Test Championship final, but they will likely need to carry on their form and win three of their four contests on home soil at the end of the year.

The two-match home series against Sri Lanka at the end of November will be the crucial one for the Proteas, as a series sweep there will boost their own chances of reaching the final and put an end to any hopes the island nation had of reaching the title decider.

Climbing to fourth in the standings after the series win, South Africa have suddenly become a genuine threat to the top teams in the standings given they have four more matches at home.

Sixth - England - 40.79% of possible points

Remaining series: New Zealand (away, three Tests)

Best possible finish: 48.86%

Consecutive losses in Pakistan has seen England drop out of contention for a spot at next year's final, with Ben Stokes' side with just three more Tests remaining this cycle.

They travel to New Zealand for a three-match series against the Black Caps and will be looking to finish the cycle on a good note with a series victory away from home.

Seventh - Pakistan - 33.33% of possible points

Remaining Series: South Africa (away, two Tests), West Indies (home, two Tests)

Best Possible Finish: 52.38%

Pakistan have won back-to-back Tests under the watchful eye of new coach Jason Gillespie, but remain out of contention of reaching the final with a total of six teams ahead of them on the standings.

While Pakistan could still win their remaining four Tests and finish with a percentage as high as 52.38 percent, this is unlikely to be enough to finish in the top two places on the standings.

The next play South Africa at the end of December and then will welcome West Indies home for two Tests in January next year.

Eighth - Bangladesh - 27.50% of possible points

Remaining Series: West Indies (away, two Tests)

Best Possible Finish: 39.58%

The recent series loss to South Africa at home put pay to Bangladesh's chances of reaching next year's final, with just two Tests remaining for the Asian side this cycle.

They could still win those remaining matches to finish with a percentage of 39.58, but this won't be enough to feature in a first World Test Championship final.

Ninth - West Indies - 18.52% of possible points

Remaining Series: Bangladesh (home, two matches), Pakistan (away, two matches)

Best Possible Finish: 43.59%

Outside a moment of glory against Australia in Brisbane in early 2024, it's been a forgettable second World Test Championship cycle for the West Indies.

The men from the Caribbean dropped 20 of a possible 24 points in their home stand against India to begin the campaign, and lost the first Test in Australia by 10 wickets before the unlikely win at the Gabba in January.

Kraigg Brathwaite's men were unable to emulate the same success in England, losing all three matches heavily, before dropping 20 points in a home series against South Africa.

After their home series in Bangladesh at the end of November, the West Indies face Pakistan away early in the new year to round out their campaign.