World Test Championship - State of Play ahead of 2025 final

ICC World Test Championship 2025 Standings

As the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) cycle goes into the final stretch, India have bested Australia in the opening fixture of the five-Test series Down Under with a 295-run win in Perth.

The triumph has now propelled the two-time runners-up to top spot in the 2023-25 WTC points tally, further solidifying their chances of making it to their third successive final at Lord's next year. The win for the visitors comes on the back of the recent 3-0 drubbing at the hands of New Zealand back home.

Australia, who have slipped to the second spot in the nine-team points table, are still in the race to defend their title. Also in contention for a place in the summit clash are three other teams.

On 27 November, Sri Lanka will begin their two-Test series in South Africa. While the Asian side, placed third in the WTC Standings, are riding high on a 2-0 series win over New Zealand at home, the Proteas (at the fifth place) are buoyed by a perfect outing in Bangladesh and will look at the upcoming home contests to improve their WTC position.

England and New Zealand also engage in a three-game series beginning 28th November, where the Kiwis will look to make a push for Lord's.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh are currently in the middle of a a two-game Test series away from home against the West Indies, though both the sides are out of the race for the final but looking to improve their WTC returns.

At the top of the ICC World Test Championship standings, things are tight with less than 10 percent separating the top five teams.

First - India - 61.11% of possible points

Remaining matches: Australia (away, four Tests)

Best possible finish: 69.30%

After an unprecedented 3-0 series whitewash at home in October against New Zealand which pushed them down a spot in the WTC table, India have bounced back in the race for Lord's with a comprehensive win in Australia.

An all-round display from the batters and the bowlers in Perth has rekindled India's hopes for a third straight appearance in the WTC Final.

Having started their five-Test tour Down Under on a winning note, India need to win three off their remaining four matches to ensure qualification.

Remaining World Test Championship Fixtures

Second - Australia - 57.69% of possible points

Remaining matches: India (home, four Tests), Sri Lanka (away, two Tests)

Best possible finish: 71.05%

The reigning World Test Championship winners Australia, who had regained the top spot after India's series loss to New Zealand, are back in the second position in the points table. Pat Cummins and co however still have the best chance to qualify for next year's final, with six Tests still left in their current WTC cycle.

The defending champions will likely still need to win a minimum of four of their remaining six Tests if they are to stand a chance to defend the title they won in 2023.

While Australia are 1-0 down in the home Border-Gavaskar series, they will also tour Sri Lanka next year for an additional two Tests, meaning they could theoretically draw 2-2 with India and stay in contention for a place in the final.

Third - Sri Lanka - 55.56% of possible points

Remaining matches: South Africa (away, Two Tests), Australia (home, two Tests)

Best Possible Finish: 69.23%

A head-turning victory over England in the third Test in England means Sri Lanka could still make a push for a World Test Championship Final berth with three more wins from their remaining four Tests.

Their task will be difficult, with two Tests scheduled in South Africa at the end of November and a further two-match series at home against reigning champions Australia in 2025.

Kamindu Mendis' stunning start to his Test career has helped the Sri Lankan side, averaging 94.30 in his first 12 innings in the competition. With the ball, Prabath Jayasuriya will remain the key, particularly in the final series on home soil.

If Sri Lanka can pinch one victory in South Africa, it could lead to a grandstand finish on home soil with the top two spots potentially still to be decided in the final series of the cycle.

Fourth - New Zealand - 54.55% of possible points

Remaining matches: England (home, three Tests)

Best possible finish: 64.29%

A historic series sweep in India has bolstered New Zealand's hope of claiming a second World Test Championship title, but they still have plenty of work to do at home if they are to finish in the top two places in the standings.

The Black Caps will likely need at least one win in their remaining three Tests to try and make it through to the final. This will mean repeating their whitewash in India at home against a strong England side led by Ben Stokes.

The Kiwis have the winning momentum but will need to make the most of it.

Fifth - South Africa - 54.17% of possible points

Remaining matches: Sri Lanka (home, two Tests), Pakistan (home, two Tests)

Best possible finish: 69.44%

South Africa ended a decade-long wait for a win in the sub-continent with an impressive victory in the opening game, then followed it up with an even more commanding display in the second match, winning by a colossal innings and 273 runs.

The 2-0 series whitewash over Bangladesh has given South Africa hope of reaching next year's World Test Championship final, but they will likely need to carry on their form and win three of their four contests on home soil at the end of the year.

The two-match home series against Sri Lanka at the end of November will be the crucial one for the Proteas, as a series sweep there will boost their own chances of reaching the final and put an end to any hopes the island nation had of reaching the title decider.

Climbing to fourth in the standings after the series win, South Africa have suddenly become a genuine threat to the top teams in the standings given they have four more matches at home.

Sixth - England - 40.79% of possible points

Remaining matches: New Zealand (away, three Tests)

Best possible finish: 48.86%

Consecutive losses in Pakistan has seen England drop out of contention for a spot at next year's final, with Ben Stokes' side with just three more Tests remaining this cycle.

They travel to New Zealand for a three-match series against the Black Caps and will be looking to finish the cycle on a good note with a series victory away from home.

Seventh - Pakistan - 33.33% of possible points

Remaining matches: South Africa (away, two Tests), West Indies (home, two Tests)

Best Possible Finish: 52.38%

Pakistan have won back-to-back Tests under the watchful eye of new coach Jason Gillespie, but remain out of contention of reaching the final with a total of six teams ahead of them on the standings.

While Pakistan could still win their remaining four Tests and finish with a percentage as high as 52.38 percent, this is unlikely to be enough to finish in the top two places on the standings.

The next play South Africa at the end of December and then will welcome West Indies home for two Tests in January next year.

Eighth - West Indies - 26.67% of possible points

Remaining matches: Bangladesh (home, one match), Pakistan (away, two matches)

Best Possible Finish: 43.59%

Outside a moment of glory against Australia in Brisbane in early 2024, it's been a forgettable second World Test Championship cycle for the West Indies.

The men from the Caribbean dropped 20 of a possible 24 points in their home stand against India to begin the campaign, and lost the first Test in Australia by 10 wickets before the unlikely win at the Gabba in January.

Kraigg Brathwaite's men were unable to emulate the same success in England, losing all three matches heavily, before dropping 20 points in a home series against South Africa.

After their two-Test home series against Bangladesh, which they have started off on a winning note, the Windies face Pakistan away early in the new year to round out their campaign.

Ninth - Bangladesh - 25.00% of possible points

Remaining matches: West Indies (away, one match)

Best Possible Finish: 31.25%

The recent Test loss to the West Indies displaced Bangladesh to the bottom of the WTC points table, with just one Test remaining for the Asian side in this cycle.

If they finish the current cycle on a winning note with a win in the second Test against the Windies, Bangladesh will finish with a percentage of 31.25, but this won't be enough to feature in a first World Test Championship final.