South Africa have certified for June’s World Take a look at Championship closing at Lord’s – however who will the Proteas play subsequent summer time?
Australia and India – who’re at the moment enjoying one another – are the frontrunners though Sri Lanka nonetheless retain slender hopes, however England are out of competition as a result of too many defeats and over-rate indiscretions throughout the two-year cycle.
South Africa booked their spot within the closing with a nervy two-wicket win over Pakistan at Centurion as Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen steered their facet to a goal of 148 after a collapse of 4 wickets for 3 runs from 96-4 at SuperSport Park.
What does either side want?
Australia
Remaining matches = one at dwelling to India; two in Sri Lanka
Reigning champions Australia will attain their second-straight World Take a look at Championship closing in the event that they win their closing Take a look at in opposition to India in Sydney.
If that collection – which Australia lead 2-1 after 4 video games after victory on the MCG – ends 2-2, then the Dishevelled Greens might want to win one among their two matches versus Sri Lanka in early 2025.
India
Remaining matches = one in Australia
India have to win their closing Take a look at in opposition to Australia to have an opportunity of reaching Lord’s, however even a 2-2 draw would go away them counting on Sri Lanka successful their collection at dwelling to Australia in January.
Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant
Sky Sports activities’ Michael Atherton and Nasser Hussain focus on whether or not India quick bowler Jasprit Bumrah is the world’s finest participant throughout all codecs of the sport
Sri Lanka
Remaining matches = two at dwelling to Australia
Whereas Sri Lanka had been extra aggressive in defeat within the second Take a look at to South Africa, happening by 109 runs, that consequence, coupled with their embarrassing loss within the series-opener in Durban – a sport through which they had been rolled for his or her lowest Take a look at rating of 42 – means they’re all however out of competition.
They now want Australia and India to attract on the SCG after which to comb the Dishevelled Greens of their two-Take a look at collection at dwelling in January.
Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant
Sri Lanka had been skittled for 42 inside 14 overs throughout their defeat to South Africa within the first Take a look at at Durban
How does the factors system work?
Every of the 9 sides – Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka and West Indies – play six collection (three at dwelling and three away).
With the groups not enjoying an equal variety of matches, the desk is set by proportion of factors received, with the 12 factors awarded for a win getting you 100 per cent, the six for a tie 50 per cent and the 4 for a draw 33.3 per cent.
For those who lose a sport, you permit with nothing.
Ben Stokes’ England are out of the operating to succeed in the World Take a look at Championship closing
Groups can lose factors for over-rate infringements, as England and Australia did throughout The 2023 Ashes and, most lately, the series-opening Take a look at in opposition to New Zealand.
England had been deducted a whopping 19 factors in complete for sluggish over-rates within the first, second, fourth and fifth Exams of final 12 months’s Ashes, whereas their indiscretion in Christchurch value them an additional three – taking their complete to a staggering 22 general.
