ICC World Test Championship 2023-25: Current Standings, Scenarios & Future Matches

The ICC World Test Championship 2023-25 enters a crucial period this week as four teams will be in red ball action, starting from Wednesday (September 18), while two teams will lock horns at the start of next month.

In the race to qualify for WTC Final 2025, Sri Lanka host New Zealand in a two-Test series, while current leaders India will host Bangladesh in the same number of matches, starting from Thursday (September 19).

England and Pakistan will clash in a series at the start of October when New Zealand travel to India for three Test. As Test action takes centre stage, here is a look at the current WTC points table followed by the scenarios for the road to Lord's for WTC Final 2025:

WTC 2023-25 Standings on September 16, 2024

Team	Matches	Won	Lost	Drawn	Win Percent	Points
India	9	6	2	1	68.52	74
Australia	12	8	3	1	62.50	90
New Zealand	6	3	3	0	50.00	36
Bangladesh	6	3	3	0	45.83	33
Sri Lanka	7	3	4	0	42.86	36
England	16	8	7	1	42.19	81
South Africa	6	2	3	1	38.89	28
Pakistan	7	2	5	0	19.05	16
West Indies	9	1	6	2	18.52	20

World Test Championship scenarios

India currently leads the race to feature in next year's ICC World Test Championship final with 68.52% of possible points. They have been in the current cycle, securing six wins from nine matches. India has 10 matches remaining, with half of them to be played at home. They will face Bangladesh, New Zealand, and Australia in their upcoming series.

Australia is in second place with 62.50% of possible points. They began the cycle with a draw against England, followed by wins against Pakistan and a draw against the West Indies. Australia has seven matches left, including a five-match series against India. They will be motivated to reclaim the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and secure a spot in the final.

New Zealand's Mixed Performance

New Zealand, the reigning World Test Championship winners, have had a mixed run in the current cycle. They earned a draw against Bangladesh and defeated South Africa at home. However, they were defeated by Australia in both of their home Tests. New Zealand has three series remaining, including away tours to Sri Lanka and India.

Sri Lanka had a tough start to the cycle with defeats against Pakistan and Bangladesh. However, they bounced back with a series win against England. Sri Lanka has three series remaining, including home matches against New Zealand and Australia.

Bangladesh's Strong Push

Bangladesh has made a strong push for a spot in the final with a 2-0 series win against Pakistan. They began the cycle with a victory over New Zealand but suffered defeats against Sri Lanka. Bangladesh has three series remaining, including away tours to India and the West Indies.

England's hopes of reaching the final took a hit with a defeat against Sri Lanka. They have six away matches remaining against Pakistan and New Zealand. England will need other results to go their way to qualify.

South Africa's Mixed Results

South Africa had mixed results in their first two series, drawing against India and losing to New Zealand. They secured a win against the West Indies. South Africa has three series remaining, including an away tour to Bangladesh and home matches against Sri Lanka and Pakistan.

Pakistan and West Indies' Struggles

Pakistan has struggled in the current cycle, losing to Australia, and Bangladesh. They have three series remaining, including home matches against England and away tours to South Africa and the West Indies.

Pakistan started their cycle with a 2-0 away series win against Sri Lanka, but lost away to Australia before a shock loss to Bangladesh at home and continued their winless streak in home Tests, conceding the series to Bangladesh recently.

They have tough assignments ahead with three home series against England and an away series against South Africa. They will end the cycle with two home Test matches against West Indies in early 2025. Pakistan's best possible finish is 59.52% of the possible points.

On the other hand, West Indies dropped 20 out of 24 points in their home series against India at the beginning of the cycle. They also lost the first Test in Australia but managed to secure an unlikely win at the Gabba.

However, they were unable to replicate that success in England, losing all three matches heavily before losing to South Africa at home. West Indies' best possible finish is 43.59% of the possible points.

Apart from their moment of glory against Australia in Brisbane, West Indies have struggled throughout this second cycle of the World Test Championship. They've dropped crucial points in their home series and will need better performances in upcoming games.

Their remaining fixtures include matches against Bangladesh and Pakistan where they hope to salvage some pride before concluding this championship cycle.