Guwahati: Australia has secured a spot in this year’s ICC World Test Championship Final thanks to their decisive nine-wicket victory over India in the third Test, but it’s still unclear who else will compete.
Australia has been the preeminent team during this World Test Championship (2021-23), winning 11 of the 18 Tests in which they have participated under Pat Cummins.
The veteran off-spinner Nathan Lyon, who claimed 11 wickets for the game to more than make up for the unanticipated absence of Cummins due to family obligations, delivered an outstanding bowling effort in their most recent victory.
Australia’s batting collapses throughout the series may have made for a nerve-wracking run chase as Usman Khawaja was bowled for a duck in the second innings, but Travis Head (49*) and Marnus Labuschagne (28*) guided them to the heartwarming victory.
Regardless of what happens in the last Test of their current series against India, Australia will end the current period in first place in the World Test Championship standings thanks to that victory, which has enabled them accumulate an impressive 68.52 of their available WTC points.
Although being in the driver’s seat to earn a spot in the lone Test at The Oval in June and maintaining second place in the standings with 60.29 of their possible WTC points, India is still vulnerable to being passed by Sri Lanka if things go against Rohit Sharma’s team in the upcoming weeks.
India’s participation in the WTC Final will be guaranteed if they win the fourth Test against Australia in Ahmedabad, but if the visitors also win or if there is a draw, Sri Lanka has a chance to overcome Rohit’s team and claim the final berth.
Sri Lanka must whitewash New Zealand 2-0 in a series of two away Test matches they must play this month in order to have any chance of securing a spot in the WTC Final.
Remaining ICC World Test Championship Fixtures
South Africa v West Indies (Second Test) – Johannesburg, South Africa, 8-12 March
New Zealand v Sri Lanka (First Test) – Christchurch, New Zealand, 9-13 March
India v Australia (Fourth Test) – Ahmedabad, India, 9-13 March
New Zealand v Sri Lanka (Second Test) – Wellington, New Zealand, 17-21 March.