The race for the final of the World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25 has become quite interesting. India's victory against Australia in Perth has also dealt a blow to Australia's hopes but they still remain at the second position in the points table. Indian team Remains in first place. Apart from these two, New Zealand team can also take wild card entry in the final race.
The Kiwi team is currently playing the first match of the three-match Test series against England at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch and this series can either boost or break their hopes of reaching the final. The journey of New Zealand, the inaugural winners of the World Test Championship, so far in this cycle has been full of ups and downs. They have won six matches and lost five, with three matches still to be played.
Recently, the Kiwis suffered a setback after losing the second test against Sri Lanka but they pulled off a major upset by defeating India 3-0 in the 3-match series at their home ground. After this victory, they have a great chance to qualify for the finals, but their path is also a bit difficult. The Kiwis can now score a maximum points percentage (PCT) of only 64.3%, so their fate depends not only on their own performance but also on the results of other teams like South Africa, Sri Lanka, India and Australia. .
What does New Zealand need to do?
Now New Zealand have only three Tests left and they have no margin for error. Their only chance to qualify for the WTC final is to win all the remaining matches against England. This will take their PCT to 64%, which is important to keep their hopes alive. New Zealand can ensure their place in the final with a clean sweep against England. However, this will not be achieved only by their winning but other results will also play an important role in determining their fate.
South Africa vs Sri Lanka Series: If this series ends in a 1-1 draw, it will prevent any team from crossing the PCT to New Zealand, which works in favor of the Kiwis.
India and Australia: If New Zealand can maintain its PCT at 64%, only one of India or Australia can overtake them. This opens up a possible path to qualification, but they will have to depend on the results of these two teams.
If New Zealand fails to win all three of their matches against England, their PCT could fall below 60%, leaving them in a vulnerable position. In such a situation, they will need many results to remain in the race for the WTC final spot.
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