The Australian cricket team is inching closer to the ICC World Test Championship 2021-23 final spot. As the third test match against South Africa ended in a draw, the hosts secured a 2-0 win in the three-match series. Australia declared their first innings for 475 runs and managed to bowl South Africa out for 255. Pat Cummins enforced the follow-on, pushing for a win. However, his team could only take two wickets before they decided to shake hands with the opposition with five overs still to go.
Australia’s series win has put them in a great position in the World Test Championship table. With 10 wins, a loss, and four draws so far, Australia has 136 points with a points percentage (PCT) of 75.55. They need at least one draw in their next and last series of the WTC against India to qualify for the final. On the other hand, South Africa has slipped to the fourth position from the second with a PCT of 48.71 after 13 games. This result has boosted India’s position on the points table.
How can India qualify for the World Test Championship final?
India is currently at the second spot in the World Test Championship table after South Africa slipped to fourth. They recently defeated Bangladesh 2-0, in the test series in December 2022. Team India has a points percentage (PCT) of 58.93, with eight wins, four losses, and two draw games. They take on Australia next in the Border Gavaskar Trophy, starting in February. A 3-1 series win for the hosts will put them through to the final, alongside Australia, with a PCT of 61.92.
In the case of a 2-2 series draw, India will finish ahead of South Africa’s best-possible result with a 56.4 PCT. They will qualify for the final if Sri Lanka fails to win two matches against New Zealand. If India qualifies this will be their second consecutive World Test Championship final. They lost to New Zealand in the previous cycle by eight wickets at Southampton.
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