IND vs AUS: The ultimate day of test cricket action is here in the Boxing Day test, as the match between India and Australia is underway at the MCG. Both these teams are looking to feature alongside South Africa who have already been placed in the WTC final.
After securing a series sweep over Sri Lanka, the Proteas were just one win away from their WTC final entry, as the first test victory over Pakistan at the centurion gave them their entry into their maiden WTC final.
England’s 2-1 victory over New Zealand has eliminated the Blackcaps from contention for the final spot in the race for the WTC finals. Currently, South Africa, who have sealed their spot in the WTC final, like India, Sri Lanka, and Australia, the defending champions, will be in the hope of sealing the second spot.
India targets their third consecutive WTC final spot, while Australia will look to defend their title at Lord’s after they won the WTC in the previous edition in 2023.
Current WTC Standings:
Currently, the Aussies are placed in the second spot after the Proteas and are the most likely team to be placed in the WTC final at Lord’s alongside South Africa. Australia’s pink-ball test victory helped them reclaim their spot while India for the first time over 3 WTC were placed down in no. 3.
| Position | Team Code | Team | Played | Won | Lost | Draw | Points | PCT |
| 1. | SA | South Africa | 11 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 88 | 66.67 |
| 2. | AUS | Australia | 15 | 9 | 4 | 2 | 106 | 58.89 |
| 3. | IND | India | 17 | 9 | 6 | 2 | 114 | 55.89 |
| 4. | NZ | New Zealand | 14 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 81 | 48.21 |
| 5. | SL | Sri Lanka | 11 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 60 | 45.45 |
| 6. | ENG | England | 22 | 11 | 10 | 1 | 114 | 43.18 |
| 7. | BAN | Bangladesh | 12 | 4 | 8 | 0 | 45 | 31.25 |
| 8. | PAK | Pakistan | 11 | 4 | 7 | 0 | 40 | 30.30 |
| 9. | WI | West Indies | 11 | 2 | 7 | 2 | 32 | 24.24 |
WTC Standings if India win the Boxing Day Test
Now that India won the Perth test and Australia responded by winning the second test at Adelaide, the BGT is levelled at 1-1. If India can secure a victory in the MCG test, then Australia might be demoted down and also would have reduced chances to qualify in the finals of the WTC.
| Position | Team Code | Team | Played | Won | Lost | Draw | Points | PCT |
| 1. | SA | South Africa | 11 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 88 | 66.67 |
| 2. | IND | India | 18 | 10 | 6 | 2 | 126 | 58.33 |
| 3. | AUS | Australia | 16 | 9 | 5 | 2 | 106 | 55.21 |
| 4. | NZ | New Zealand | 14 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 81 | 48.21 |
| 5. | SL | Sri Lanka | 11 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 60 | 45.45 |
| 6. | ENG | England | 22 | 11 | 10 | 1 | 114 | 43.18 |
| 7. | BAN | Bangladesh | 12 | 4 | 8 | 0 | 45 | 31.25 |
| 8. | PAK | Pakistan | 11 | 4 | 7 | 0 | 40 | 30.30 |
| 9. | WI | West Indies | 11 | 2 | 7 | 2 | 32 | 24.24 |
WTC Standings if Australia win the Boxing Day Test
If the Aussies can secure a victory in the Boxing Day test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, then the Australian side will consolidate their hold on the second spot, as the BGT would also be in favour of the Aussies after India made a hat-trick of BGT trophies over the last decade.
In such a situation, India would face an impossible situation, while their path to qualification would solely depend on Australia’s tour of Sri Lanka; that would also apply if the SCG test either ends in a win for India or a draw.
| Position | Team Code | Team | Played | Won | Lost | Draw | Points | PCT |
| 1. | SA | South Africa | 11 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 88 | 66.67 |
| 2. | AUS | Australia | 16 | 10 | 4 | 2 | 118 | 61.46 |
| 3. | IND | India | 18 | 9 | 7 | 2 | 114 | 52.78 |
| 4. | NZ | New Zealand | 14 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 81 | 48.21 |
| 5. | SL | Sri Lanka | 11 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 60 | 45.45 |
| 6. | ENG | England | 22 | 11 | 10 | 1 | 114 | 43.18 |
| 7. | BAN | Bangladesh | 12 | 4 | 8 | 0 | 45 | 31.25 |
| 8. | PAK | Pakistan | 11 | 4 | 7 | 0 | 40 | 30.30 |
| 9. | WI | West Indies | 11 | 2 | 7 | 2 | 32 | 24.24 |
WTC Standings if the Boxing Day test ends in a draw
The current WTC scenario will be retained if the Boxing Day test ends in a draw, which now seems the current situation and is currently the most sorted result, which is about to take place with Pant and Jaiswal on the crease.
The race off to the WTC finals will be complex, and the SCG test will get even more exciting with time.
| Position | Team Code | Team | Played | Won | Lost | Draw | Points | PCT |
| 1. | SA | South Africa | 11 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 88 | 66.67 |
| 2. | AUS | Australia | 16 | 9 | 4 | 3 | 110 | 57.29 |
| 3. | IND | India | 18 | 9 | 6 | 3 | 118 | 54.63 |
| 4. | NZ | New Zealand | 14 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 81 | 48.21 |
| 5. | SL | Sri Lanka | 11 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 60 | 45.45 |
| 6. | ENG | England | 22 | 11 | 10 | 1 | 114 | 43.18 |
| 7. | BAN | Bangladesh | 12 | 4 | 8 | 0 | 45 | 31.25 |
| 8. | PAK | Pakistan | 11 | 4 | 7 | 0 | 40 | 30.30 |
| 9. | WI | West Indies | 11 | 2 | 7 | 2 | 32 | 24.24 |
