Australia has tightened its grip on the top position in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27 cycle following a commanding 4-1 series victory over arch-rivals England in the Ashes. The decisive win, sealed with a five-wicket triumph in Sydney on Thursday, has significantly boosted the Aussies' points percentage, leaving England languishing near the bottom of the standings.
Ashes Climax in Sydney Sees Australia Home
The final chapter of the Ashes 2025-26 series unfolded at the iconic Sydney Cricket Ground, where Australia chased down a modest target of 160 runs on the fifth day. The victory, however, was not without its tense moments. England's bowlers sparked a late scare, taking a flurry of wickets to push the match deep into the final session. The chase was ultimately anchored by a crucial partnership between wicketkeeper-batter Alex Carey and all-rounder Cameron Green, who steered the hosts to a five-wicket win post-lunch.
England's fight to extend the match into a fifth day was largely due to a heroic maiden Test century from young batter Jacob Bethell. The left-hander, batting at number three, reached the milestone on Wednesday. His knock made him the second youngest batter to score an Ashes century in the 21st century, a feat previously achieved by Alastair Cook back in 2006. Bethell's resistance was finally broken on the final morning by Mitchell Starc, who finished with a three-wicket haul to wrap up the English innings.
WTC Standings Reshaped After Series Result
The comprehensive series win has had a major impact on the World Test Championship table. Australia, having played eight matches in the current cycle, now boasts seven wins and just one defeat. Their only loss came in a dramatic two-day finish during the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne. This stellar record has elevated their Points Percentage (PCT) from 85.71 to a formidable 87.50%, strengthening their claim at the summit.
In stark contrast, England's campaign continues to falter. The defeat in Sydney marks their sixth loss in ten matches of the WTC cycle. This poor run has dragged their PCT down to a mere 31.66%, leaving them in seventh place on the nine-team table. They now sit just marginally ahead of Bangladesh and the West Indies, who occupy the bottom two spots.
Current WTC 2025-27 Points Table Overview
The landscape of the championship after the Ashes conclusion shows a clear hierarchy. The inaugural WTC winners, New Zealand, hold second position with a PCT of 77.78 after three games. They are followed by South Africa (75.00%) and Sri Lanka (66.67%), who complete the top four as of January 8, 2026.
India, having played the most matches (nine), finds itself in sixth place with a PCT of 48.15, while Pakistan is fifth at 50.00%. The updated standings underscore the importance of consistency in the two-year championship, where teams are ranked by the percentage of points won, with the top two qualifying for the final in 2027.
The WTC points system awards 12 points for a win, 6 for a tie, and 4 for a draw. Teams also face point deductions for maintaining slow over-rates, a factor that has already impacted England's tally in this cycle. As the championship progresses, each series will play a pivotal role in shaping the race for the final.
