The league stage of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25 has concluded, with Australia securing a historic series win against Sri Lanka to confirm their place in the final. They will now face South Africa at Lord’s in June, as both teams emerged as the top two in the standings. Here’s a breakdown of how each team fared in the competition and the journey to the grand finale.
South Africa finished as the table-toppers with a points percentage of 69.44, marking their first-ever appearance in the WTC final. Their campaign was built on strong performances at home, securing series wins against Pakistan and Sri Lanka while managing a crucial draw against India. Their away performances were equally impressive, with victories over West Indies and Bangladesh. Their only setback came in New Zealand, where they played without several key players. Winning eight out of 12 matches and drawing one, the Proteas secured their ticket to Lord’s.
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Australia, the defending WTC champions, finished second in the standings with a points percentage of 67.54. They started their campaign by drawing the Ashes series in England before sweeping Pakistan 3-0 at home. A minor hiccup came when West Indies held them to a series draw, but crucial wins against New Zealand and Sri Lanka, coupled with a landmark home victory against India, cemented their place in the final. They now have the chance to defend their title in the ultimate showdown against South Africa.
India finished third with a points percentage of 50, just missing out on a third consecutive WTC final. Their campaign started with a series win in the West Indies, followed by a well-fought draw in South Africa. They then gained momentum with dominant home wins over England and Bangladesh. However, a shocking home whitewash at the hands of New Zealand and a tough tour of Australia derailed their journey, ultimately costing them a spot in the final.
New Zealand ended their campaign in fourth place with a points percentage of 48.21. They won seven and lost seven out of their 14 matches. Their highlights included impressive wins over South Africa and India, but losses to Australia and England prevented them from breaking into the top two.
England played the most matches in this cycle—22 in total—and won 11. However, slow over rates proved to be their undoing, as they lost 22 points due to penalties. Despite securing series wins over Sri Lanka, New Zealand, and West Indies, the deductions prevented them from climbing higher in the table. They finished in fifth place with a points percentage of 43.18.
Sri Lanka had a mixed campaign, finishing sixth with a points percentage of 38.46. In their 13 matches, they secured five wins but lost eight. Their only series victories came against Bangladesh and New Zealand, but they struggled to create major upsets, keeping them out of contention for the final.
Bangladesh finished seventh with a points percentage of 31.25. Their campaign was highlighted by a historic away whitewash of Pakistan and series draws against New Zealand and West Indies. However, heavy defeats against India, South Africa, and Sri Lanka prevented them from making a serious push up the table.
West Indies endured a tough WTC cycle, finishing eighth with a points percentage of 28.21. Their campaign had a few bright moments, including series draws against Bangladesh, Australia, and Pakistan. However, heavy defeats against India, South Africa, and England saw them finish near the bottom of the table.
Pakistan had a turbulent campaign, finishing last with a points percentage of 27.98. They suffered crushing defeats in away series against Australia and South Africa, while a shocking home whitewash by Bangladesh further dented their standings. A drawn series against West Indies and a major win over England were not enough to rescue their campaign.
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