 "WTC Points Table 2023-25: How World Test Championship points table changed after Australia beat New Zealand")
Australia completed a 2-0 series sweep against New Zealand in the just-concluded Test series on Monday. Both the Tests were part of the 2023-25 World Test Championship (WTC) cycle and the result of the series has directly impacted the WTC points table as the race for next year’s final heats up.
Australia had won the first Test in Wellington quite convincingly, with Cameron Green ‘s unbeaten 174 proving to be the difference maker, as the Aussies clinched a 172-run win. In the second Test in Christchurch, though, Australia were made to sweat. After a five-fer from Josh Hazlewood dismissed New Zealand for 162, Australia rode on Marnus Labuschagne’s 90 to post 256 on board in the first innings. In the second innings, fifties from Tom Latham, Kane Williamson, Daryl Mitchell and Rachin Ravindra led the Kiwis to 372 and Australia were set a target of 279. The visitors suffered a top-order collapse to be reeling at 80/5 at one stage, but Mitchell Marsh (80), Alex Carey (98*) and skipper Pat Cummins (32*) were at the forefront of Australia’s three-wicket win .
So what does Australia’s series win over New Zealand mean for the WTC points table? How has the WTC points table changed?
Despite Australia’s series win over New Zealand, Pat Cummins and Co stay in second place in the updated WTC points table. India on the other hand are at the top of the points table after defeating England 4-1 in the five-match Test series. Rohit Sharma and Co have a win percentage of 68.51 after six wins from nine matches. Australia, having won eight of the 12 matches, have a win percentage of 62.50, while third-placed New Zealand, who have won three out of their six games this WTC cycle, have a win percentage of 50 per cent.
Remember, it’s the win percentage that matters in the WTC points table and not the number of points a team has accumulated. Teams are ranked on the basis of higher win percentage.
Prior to the second Test between Australia and New Zealand, Aussies had a points percentage of 59.09 and New Zealand were at 60 per cent. An almost 10 per cent decrease in percentage points mean New Zealand will have their task cut out in the next Test assignment.
The rest of the six teams in the nine-team standings remain unchanged. England’s win percentage, however, has dipped to 17.5 from 19.44 following their heavy loss to India in Dharamsala in the fifth and final Test. Ben Stokes and Co are in ninth place with 21 points, only ahead of Sri Lanka who are yet to win a Test in this cycle as well as grab a single point.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsHere’s a closer look at the updated WTC 2023-25 points table:
| NO. | TEAM | PLAYED | WON | LOST | DRAW | POINT DEDUCTIONS | POINTS | POINT PERCENTAGE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | INDIA | 9 | 6 | 2 | 1 | -2 | 74 | 68.51 |
| 2 | AUSTRALIA | 12 | 8 | 3 | 1 | -10 | 90 | 62.5 |
| 3 | NEW ZEALAND | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 36 | 50 |
| 4 | BANGLADESH | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 50 |
| 5 | PAKISTAN | 5 | 2 | 3 | 0 | -2 | 22 | 36.66 |
| 6 | WEST INDIES | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 16 | 33.33 |
| 7 | SOUTH AFRICA | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 25 |
| 8 | ENGLAND | 10 | 3 | 6 | 1 | -19 | 21 | 17.5 |
| 9 | SRI LANKA | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
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