England have made a significant leap in the World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25 standings, moving up to sixth place following a commanding 3-0 series win over the West Indies on home soil. They will look to build on this momentum in their remaining nine fixtures to strengthen their case for a place in the one-off Test final in 2025.
At present, the leading positions in the table are occupied by the finalists from the previous edition, India and Australia. New Zealand, Sri Lanka, England, and Pakistan occupy the middle spots, while South Africa, Sri Lanka, and the West Indies find themselves at the lower end of the standings.
With plenty of cricket still to be played in this WTC cycle, it is important to assess the prospects of each team as they vie for a spot in the final.
1. India
– Remaining Series: Bangladesh (home, two Tests), New Zealand (home, three Tests), Australia (away, five Tests)
– Current Status: India is on track for a third successive appearance in the final. They started with a win in the West Indies, drew against South Africa, and defeated England. With six wins from nine games, they aim to maximize points from their remaining fixtures, especially their five home matches against Bangladesh and New Zealand. The final challenge is a daunting five-Test series against Australia.
2. Australia
– Remaining Series: India (home, five Tests), Sri Lanka (away, two Tests)
– Current Status: The defending champions are well-positioned for a second consecutive final appearance. After a competitive Ashes series and wins against Pakistan and the West Indies, Australia needs strong performances against India at home and Sri Lanka away to bolster their chances.
3. New Zealand
– Remaining Series: Sri Lanka (away, two Tests), India (away, three Tests), England (home, three Tests)
– Current Status: Despite a mixed performance with a drawn series against Bangladesh and a home loss to Australia, New Zealand remains in contention. They will face a tough road with five upcoming Tests in Asia and three against England at home. The performance of their spinners will be crucial for success.
4. Sri Lanka
– Remaining Series: England (away, three Tests), New Zealand (home, two Tests), South Africa (away, two Tests), Australia (home, two Tests)
– Current Status: Sri Lanka has only played four Tests so far, winning against Bangladesh but losing to Pakistan. They face a challenging schedule with upcoming series against top teams. Their batting and spin attack will need to perform well to stay in the race.
5. Pakistan
– Remaining Series: Bangladesh (home, two Tests), England (home, three Tests), South Africa (away, two Tests), West Indies (home, two Tests)
– Current Status: Pakistan started strong with a win over Sri Lanka but struggled in Australia. They have a favorable schedule with seven home Tests remaining, where they will need to perform well, especially against England and the West Indies.
6. England
– Remaining Series: Sri Lanka (home, three Tests), Pakistan (away, three Tests), New Zealand (away, three Tests)
– Current Status: England’s 3-0 series win over the West Indies has kept their hopes alive. They need to perform strongly in their remaining series against Sri Lanka at home and the away series against Pakistan and New Zealand to remain in contention for the final.
7. South Africa
– Remaining Series: West Indies (away, two Tests), Bangladesh (away, two Tests), Sri Lanka (home, two Tests), Pakistan (home, two Tests.
– Current Status: After a strong start with a win over India, South Africa has faced setbacks. They have several opportunities to improve their standings with matches against West Indies, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan.
8. Bangladesh
– Remaining Series: Pakistan (away, two Tests), India (away, two Tests), South Africa (home, two Tests), West Indies (away, two Tests)
– Current Status: Bangladesh had a strong start but has faced challenges since. They need to secure points in their remaining matches against Pakistan, India, South Africa, and West Indies to stay in contention.
9. West Indies
– Remaining Series: South Africa (home, two Tests), Bangladesh (home, two Tests), Pakistan (away, two Tests)
– Current Status: The West Indies’ sole victory came against Australia. With a tough schedule ahead, including home series against South Africa and Bangladesh, they need to perform exceptionally well to have a chance of reaching the final.