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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Matthew Cooper

Unlikely set of results could yet see England qualify for World Test Championship final

Despite currently sitting fifth in the World Test Championship standings, England still have an outside chance of reaching the final which is due to be played at the Oval in June.

England's 3-0 series whitewash of Pakistan in December marked their final games in 2021-23 cycle as they finished with ten wins, eight losses and four draws in 22 Tests and a percentage of 46.97.

However, they remain behind Australia, India, Sri Lanka and South Africa in the standings and will need something of a minor miracle if they are to qualify for the final.

England will need both India and Sri Lanka to lose every single one of their remaining Tests, meaning they will be hoping Australia can pull off an unlikely 4-0 whitewash in India when the hosts have not lost a series at home in over a decade.

They will also need New Zealand to beat Sri Lanka 2-0 in their upcoming series in March and for South Africa not to win any of their remaining Tests against the West Indies.

Australia have all but booked their place in the final, having lost just one Test in the current cycle so far. They currently have a percentage of 75.56 and will only miss out if they are whitewashed by India and Sri Lanka win both of their remaining Tests gainst New Zealand.

New Zealand won the inaugural edition of the World Test Championship in 2021 after beating India in the final (Gareth Copley-ICC/ICC via Getty Images)

India, meanwhile, need to beat Australia 3-1 or better to ensure they reach a second consecutive World Test Championship final, having lost to New Zealand by eight wickets in the previous final in 2021.

In order for Sri Lanka to qualify, they must beat New Zealand 2-0 and then hope Australia can beat India. South Africa, meanwhile, will need to win their two remaining Tests against the West Indies and hope New Zealand and Australia can do them a favour.

The West Indies, who are currently sixth in the standings, are still mathematically in with a chance but it is even more remote than England's as they will need to beat South Africa 2-0 and hope other results go their way.

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