WTC race gathers pace, Australia in command

The race for the ICC World Test Championship final is entering a decisive phase, with 15 of the 27 series in the 2025-27 cycle still to be played.

Australia, the runners-up in the last edition, currently sit comfortably at the top of the standings after winning seven of their eight Tests. South Africa and New Zealand are also well placed, while Bangladesh remain in contention after a promising start to their campaign.

Tap here to add The Daily Star as a trusted source

India, meanwhile, have little room for error after a disappointing home series defeat to South Africa left them fifth in the table.

The WTC action resumes in earnest this month, with Bangladesh beginning a two-match Test series against Australia on August 13. Several other crucial series involving India, England, South Africa and Pakistan will also shape the race for the top two spots.

Here is where each team stands and what lies ahead.

1. Australia

Played: 8
Wins: 7
Points Percentage: 87.50
Leading run-scorer: Travis Head — 853 runs
Leading wicket-taker: Mitchell Starc — 46 wickets
Series remaining: Bangladesh (2), South Africa (3), New Zealand (4), India (5)

Australia have made a near-perfect start to the current WTC cycle, losing only once in eight Tests.

The 2023 champions swept the West Indies in the Caribbean before retaining the Ashes on home soil. Their only defeat came in the Boxing Day Test.

The result has left Australia firmly on course for a third consecutive WTC final appearance.

They return to Test action against Bangladesh on August 13 after a seven-month break. A difficult five-Test tour of India and a three-Test series in South Africa await them later in the cycle, while New Zealand will visit for a four-Test series.

Australia have the most Tests remaining of any team, giving them both a major advantage and a significant workload.

To reach 60 per cent, they need 75 more points from their remaining 14 Tests — equivalent to six wins and a draw.

2. South Africa

Played: 4
Wins: 3
Points Percentage: 75.00
Leading run-scorer: Tony de Zorzi — 278 runs
Leading wicket-taker: Simon Harmer — 30 wickets
Series remaining: Australia (3), Bangladesh (2), England (3), Sri Lanka (2)

The defending champions have made an impressive start to their title defence.

South Africa stunned India with a 2-0 series victory away from home — their first Test series win in India in 25 years. They had earlier drawn 1-1 with Pakistan.

Three wins from four Tests have put Temba Bavuma's side second in the standings.

They will now enjoy a favourable run of home fixtures, with Australia, Bangladesh and England all scheduled to visit. Only their remaining two-Test series against Sri Lanka will be played away from home.

South Africa need 65 more points to reach the 60 per cent mark. Five wins and two draws from their remaining 10 Tests would be enough.

3. New Zealand

Played: 6
Wins: 4
Points Percentage: 72.22
Leading run-scorer: Devon Conway — 676 runs
Leading wicket-taker: Jacob Duffy — 23 wickets
Series remaining: India (2), Sri Lanka (2), Australia (4), Pakistan (2)

The inaugural WTC champions have put themselves in a strong position after an excellent start to the cycle.

New Zealand began with a drawn Test against the West Indies before winning the next two matches convincingly to take the series 2-0.

They then produced a memorable 2-1 away series victory over England. After losing the opening Test, the Black Caps responded with two successive wins to finish the tour strongly.

Their next assignments include home series against India and Sri Lanka, but a four-Test tour of Australia represents a major hurdle.

New Zealand need 64 more points to reach 60 per cent. Five wins and a draw from their remaining 10 Tests would get them there.

Image

4. Bangladesh

Played: 4
Wins: 2
Points Percentage: 58.33
Leading run-scorer: Najmul Hossain Shanto — 532 runs
Leading wicket-taker: Taijul Islam — 22 wickets
Series remaining: Australia (2), West Indies (2), South Africa (2), England (2)

Bangladesh have given themselves a realistic chance of competing for a place in the WTC final.

Although they began the cycle with a series defeat in Sri Lanka, the Tigers bounced back strongly by beating Pakistan 2-0 at home.

With two wins from four Tests, Bangladesh currently sit fourth with a points percentage of 58.33.

However, the toughest part of their campaign may be just beginning.

The Tigers travel to Australia for two Tests from August 13 before facing South Africa away from home. They also have home series against the West Indies and England.

Winning their four remaining home Tests would put Bangladesh within touching distance of the 60 per cent mark, but they would still need at least one victory in Australia or South Africa — or three draws across those four away Tests — to reach it.

5. India

Played: 9
Wins: 4
Points Percentage: 48.15
Leading run-scorer: Shubman Gill — 950 runs
Leading wicket-taker: Mohammed Siraj — 39 wickets
Series remaining: Sri Lanka (2), New Zealand (2), Australia (5)

India's WTC campaign has become increasingly difficult.

After a high-scoring drawn series against England, India suffered a 2-0 home defeat to South Africa. The result left the two-time WTC runners-up with just a 48.15 per cent points percentage.

India now have only nine Tests remaining and need a strong finish to keep their hopes of a third final appearance alive.

They require 78 more points to reach 60 per cent — a return of six wins and two draws would be enough.

Their next two assignments are away series in Sri Lanka and New Zealand before a five-Test home series against Australia.

India's traditionally strong home record against Australia could prove crucial, but their recent home defeats to New Zealand and South Africa mean they cannot afford another slip-up.

6. Sri Lanka

Played: 4
Wins: 1
Points Percentage: 41.67
Leading run-scorer: Pathum Nissanka — 374 runs
Leading wicket-taker: Asitha Fernando — 15 wickets
Series remaining: India (2), South Africa (2), Pakistan (2), New Zealand (2)

Sri Lanka began the cycle on a positive note by beating Bangladesh but failed to maintain that momentum, losing their subsequent home series against the West Indies.

With just one win from four Tests, they have considerable ground to make up.

Their remaining schedule is demanding, with India and South Africa to visit before away assignments against Pakistan and New Zealand.

Sri Lanka need 67 more points to reach 60 per cent, meaning they must produce a substantial turnaround over their final eight Tests.

7. England

Played: 13
Wins: 4
Points Percentage: 24.36
Leading run-scorer: Joe Root — 1,108 runs
Leading wicket-taker: Josh Tongue — 45 wickets
Series remaining: Pakistan (3), South Africa (3), Bangladesh (2)

England's hopes of reaching their first WTC final have suffered another major blow.

A 2-1 home series defeat to New Zealand followed a 4-1 Ashes loss, leaving England with only four wins from 13 Tests.

Their campaign has also been hurt by repeated slow over-rates. England have already been docked 14 points, leaving them with just 38 points from their four wins and one draw.

Even a perfect finish — eight wins from eight — would take them only to 53.17 per cent, assuming no further penalty points are deducted.

England will host Pakistan before travelling to South Africa and Bangladesh. Realistically, they need an extraordinary turnaround to enter the final race.

8. Pakistan

Played: 6
Wins: 2
Points Percentage: 22.22
Leading run-scorers: Babar Azam — 439 runs
Leading wicket-takers: Mohammad Abbas, Noman Ali and Sajid Khan — 18 wickets each
Series remaining: England (3), Sri Lanka (2), New Zealand (2)

Pakistan moved off the bottom of the standings after salvaging a 1-1 draw against the West Indies.

After losing the opening Test, Pakistan responded with an emphatic eight-wicket victory in the second match.

Their campaign, however, remains disappointing. They began with a drawn home series against South Africa before suffering a 2-0 defeat to Bangladesh away from home.

Eight penalty points have further damaged their position.

Pakistan now face a three-Test tour of England, followed by home series against Sri Lanka and New Zealand.

They need an almost flawless finish. Even seven wins from their remaining seven Tests would leave them on 64.1 per cent.

9. West Indies

Played: 12
Wins: 2
Points Percentage: 20.83
Leading run-scorer: Shai Hope — 792 runs
Leading wicket-taker: Shamar Joseph — 35 wickets
Series remaining: Bangladesh (2)

West Indies are at the bottom of the WTC table with only two wins from 12 Tests.

They earned their second victory of the cycle by beating Pakistan in the opening Test of their recent series, but Pakistan hit back in the second match to level the series.

Earlier, West Indies had secured a 1-0 series victory over Sri Lanka after the second Test ended in a draw.

With only two Tests remaining, against Bangladesh away from home, their maximum possible points percentage is 32.14.

Under captain Roston Chase, the West Indies are in a rebuilding phase and will now look to finish the cycle on a positive note.

The road to The Oval

With the WTC final scheduled for June 9-13, 2027, the battle for the top two is entering its most important phase.

Australia have the strongest position, while South Africa and New Zealand are also in excellent shape. Bangladesh remain contenders but face difficult away assignments in Australia and South Africa.

India's position is far more precarious. Their remaining nine Tests leave little room for mistakes, and their five-Test series against Australia could ultimately determine whether they return to the final.

At the other end of the table, England, Pakistan and West Indies face an uphill battle, with England's chances particularly damaged by their poor results and over-rate penalties.

For now, Australia are in control. But with 15 series still to come, the WTC table could look very different by the time the finalists are decided.