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WTC 2025 Final : Qualifying scenario

honestbharani

Whatever it takes!!!
Also, if we're living in an ideal world, all WTC series should be mandated to be 3 tests. For the Ashes, BGT and other 4+ test series, only the first 3 games should count to the WTC.
Seems that is a proposal for the next WTC. I am in favor of that tbh.
 

Molehill

Cricketer Of The Year
Looks like India will have to win in Aus to have any chance of making the Final.

Meanwhile, a team that has played just 8 Tests and managed to only win one of the first five, is looking a more likely finalist.

There's also the fact that the team that has won the most Tests during this period (nine) already cannot qualify.

Whichever way you look you can pick holes in this farce.
 

Coronis

International Coach
Looks like India will have to win in Aus to have any chance of making the Final.

Meanwhile, a team that has played just 8 Tests and managed to only win one of the first five, is looking a more likely finalist.

There's also the fact that the team that has won the most Tests during this period (nine) already cannot qualify.

Whichever way you look you can pick holes in this farce.
They’re also the team that has lost the most, by a margin.
 

Daemon

Request Your Custom Title Now!
There's also the fact that the team that has won the most Tests during this period (nine) already cannot qualify.
:laugh: they lost half their games. Dropped a series to the 7th ranked side. 3 of their wins are against the 9th ranked side. Won just the two series at home against WI and SL.

Of course they’re not in the reckoning lmao
 

Molehill

Cricketer Of The Year
:laugh: they lost half their games. Dropped a series to the 7th ranked side. 3 of their wins are against the 9th ranked side. Won just the two series at home against WI and SL.
Which is the same as the current Table Toppers!! I mean they couldn't even beat WI. Only India have more series wins (3), and 2 of those were against the bottom 2 sides.

That kind of just emphasises how there's no real dominant team at the mo. Aus may yet be that team......
 

LangleyburyCCPlayer

State Regular
Looks like India will have to win in Aus to have any chance of making the Final.

Meanwhile, a team that has played just 8 Tests and managed to only win one of the first five, is looking a more likely finalist.

There's also the fact that the team that has won the most Tests during this period (nine) already cannot qualify.

Whichever way you look you can pick holes in this farce.
Hard to work out when it’s based on % points, can South Africa take it out of everyone’s hands if they just win all their games? India and Australia are going to take points off each other (see also Australia and Sri Lanka)
 

SteveNZ

Cricketer Of The Year
Looks like India will have to win in Aus to have any chance of making the Final.

Meanwhile, a team that has played just 8 Tests and managed to only win one of the first five, is looking a more likely finalist.

There's also the fact that the team that has won the most Tests during this period (nine) already cannot qualify.

Whichever way you look you can pick holes in this farce.
England are 6th because they've lost as many as they've won. We all know England plays more Test cricket than anyone else. They lost in Pakistan, to a side that a lot of the world have gone over and beaten (as evidenced as why Pakistan were 2 wins, 5 losses before that series).

India are still second, their destiny is in their own hands if they are good enough. South Africa haven't really done a lot wrong - drew with India, lost 2-0 to us with a C team because their Board f*cked up fixtures, then won two consecutive series' away.

There isn't a single farce in all of that, really (in my opinion). The team who plays the best cricket from here - whether it's India, us, South Africa, Sri Lanka - will make the final.
 

Coronis

International Coach
Hard to work out when it’s based on % points, can South Africa take it out of everyone’s hands if they just win all their games? India and Australia are going to take points off each other (see also Australia and Sri Lanka)
Yes, if South Africa win all 4 of their remaining tests, they’ll be in the final against either Australia or India or New Zealand.
 

TheJediBrah

Request Your Custom Title Now!
Also, if we're living in an ideal world, all WTC series should be mandated to be 3 tests. For the Ashes, BGT and other 4+ test series, only the first 3 games should count to the WTC.
Yeah look clearly it has issues, as mentioned, but I don't think this makes it better, nor is it practical. You can't mandate Ashes series to have the same number of Tests as, say, NZ v Bangladesh. And having only part of a long series count would be farcical. You could come behind to win the series and end up with less points.

I think the system can mostly stay as it is, but require one major change we've already mentioned:
- everyone plays everyone home and away once during the cycle (would necessitate a longer cycle, which is better anyway)
 

Fuller Pilch

Hall of Fame Member
Re the WTC I think the team that qualifies top should host it. Neutral groundsmen prepare the pitch etc. though.

Top qualifier goes straight to the final.

Teams 2 & 3 play an elimination final in the country of the top qualifier before the final. That way they can acclimatise. If the match is drawn, team 2 (2nd highest qualifier) goes through to the final.

Then final.


Also, bring in a challenge trophy that is defended in home series/one-off tests (but not away) Say hypothetically India had held the trophy for the past few years, but NZ had just won it off them, so the trophy would be on the line against England. England wins - they then try to defend it in their next home series, or NZ wins or draws they retain, and put it on the line when they next a test/tests at home. India or Australia would probably hold such a trophy most of the time, but it could really add to the test game.
 
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SteveNZ

Cricketer Of The Year
Yeah, I think the issues lay in the venue. India having to play in Southampton, despite finishing higher than us, was not exactly in the realms of fairness. I do understand they want to lock in a venue logistically, but surely there is a way to achieve this.

I honestly don't see any other issues. We're talking about it, it's become a point of interest for some people, and the only time a side made it that didn't necessarily 'deserve' to make it was us in 2021, and even then it was a very clear F up by Australia when they were aware slow over rates could cost them.
 

Fuller Pilch

Hall of Fame Member
Yeah, I think the issues lay in the venue. India having to play in Southampton, despite finishing higher than us, was not exactly in the realms of fairness. I do understand they want to lock in a venue logistically, but surely there is a way to achieve this.

I honestly don't see any other issues. We're talking about it, it's become a point of interest for some people, and the only time a side made it that didn't necessarily 'deserve' to make it was us in 2021, and even then it was a very clear F up by Australia when they were aware slow over rates could cost them.
And also

(a) We were ranked world no 1 at the time
(b) Australia didn't go to SA as Covid was just starting. They would've needed to beat the Saffas 2-0 or 3-0 in a 3-test series to make the final.
 

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