•  First – Australia - 78.57% of possible points

Remaining series: South Africa (home, 1 Test), India (away, 4 Tests)

Best possible percentage finish: 84.21%

Australia have one foot in the ICC WTC final, with Pat Cummins’ side currently holding a healthy lead at the top of the standings.

Fresh from dominant wins over South Africa in the first two Tests, Australia have one more match at home against the Proteas in Sydney in which they will be confident of performing well in given their current rich vein of form.

Four Tests in India for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in February and March next year will be Australia’s final assignment this period, but as things stand, Australia are likely to feature in their first WTC Final irrespective of the result.

•   Second – India – 58.92% of possible points

Remaining series: Australia (home, four Tests)

Best possible percentage finish: 68.06%

Even with a host of key players on the sidelines through injury, India sealed a 2-0 victory over Bangladesh away from home.

Bangladesh put up more of a fight after the 188-run defeat in the first Test but India proved to be the superior side with a three-wicket win in the second Test, taking their point percentage to 58.92.

They will need to produce some good results during their series against pacesetters Australia if they are to make it back-to-back appearances in the WTC final though, so there is still plenty of cricket that India must navigate through.

•   Third – Sri Lanka - 53.33% of possible points

Remaining series: New Zealand (away, two Tests)

Best possible percentage finish: 61.11%

One of the big winners from recent Tests has been Sri Lanka, who have had their chances of an inaugural appearance in the WTC final improved without even playing a match.

Regardless of other results between now and next year’s final, Sri Lanka are still going to have to win all their remaining Test matches this period to have any hope of featuring.

Just one series remains for Sri Lanka – a two-Test trip to New Zealand in March – where they have won just twice in 19 attempts.

Maximum points in New Zealand would take them to 61.1%, meaning they’ll be hoping Australia can continue on their winning ways and they can sneak into second place with two wins over the Kiwis.

•   Fourth – South Africa – 50% of possible points

Remaining series: Australia (away, one Test), West Indies (home, two Tests)

Best possible percentage finish: 60%

At the start of the Test series Down Under, South Africa were in the top two of the WTC standings. Two matches and two heavy defeats later, they now find themselves fourth in the table.

They are still not out of the race but will now need favours from other teams to now have a chance of making it to the Final. But first, they will need to win all their remaining games.

South Africa do have the luxury of two matches at home against the West Indies in February and March, but they will want to make sure they don’t leave themselves with too much to do by the time that series comes around.

The final match of the Australia series now becomes more crucial than ever as they will need to get a win to stay in contention for the top two spots.

•   Fifth – England – 46.97% of possible points

Remaining series: Nil

Best possible percentage finish: 46.97%

While England are one of the form teams of the current WTC period, poor results early in the period means they can no longer qualify.

They all but put an end to Pakistan’s hopes with a victory in the third and final Test in Karachi and will surely be one of the favourites heading into the next World Test Championship period.

•   Sixth – West Indies – 40.91% of possible points

Remaining series: South Africa (away, two Tests)

Best possible percentage finish: 50%

Just two Tests remain for the West Indies, with their recent 2-0 series loss to Australia leaving Kraigg Brathwaite’s side with little chance of progressing.

If they did manage to defeat South Africa 2-0 in their remaining two Test matches then they could sneak into second place should other results fall their way.

•   Seventh – Pakistan – 38.46% of possible points (out of contention)

Remaining series: New Zealand (home, one Test)

Best possible percentage finish: 42.85%

With a draw in the first Test of the series against New Zealand in Karachi, Pakistan are no longer in contention to qualify for the World Test Championship final.

Even if Pakistan beat New Zealand in the second Test, they will have a maximum of 42.85% which will not be enough for Babar Azam’s side to qualify.

•   Eighth – New Zealand – 26.67% of possible points (out of contention)

Remaining series: Pakistan (away, one Test), Sri Lanka (home, two Tests)

Best possible percentage finish: 43.58%

While New Zealand still have three Tests remaining this period, they won’t be able to defend the WTC mace they won at Lord’s last year. They could put the final nail in the coffin of Sri Lanka during their upcoming series.

•   Ninth – Bangladesh – 11.11 % of possible points (out of contention)

Remaining series: Nil

Best possible percentage finish: 11.11 %

It’s been a very disappointing campaign for Bangladesh, with the Asian side all but certain to finish at the bottom of the standings.

-ICC