England’s eight-wicket win over New Zealand in the first Test of their three-match series at Hagley Oval has propelled them to sixth place in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25 standings. While the victory marked a positive start for England’s final campaign in this WTC cycle, it has left New Zealand with slim chances of reaching the final.
The WTC standings saw significant reshuffling after the first Tests of all four ongoing series. India and South Africa solidified their positions with commanding wins, while Australia and Sri Lanka suffered setbacks that complicated their paths to the final at Lord’s in 2025. Meanwhile, the West Indies climbed off the bottom of the table after a home victory over Bangladesh, leaving the visitors languishing in last place.
Updated WTC Standings and Scenarios
India (61.11% points)
- Remaining Matches: 4 (Australia away)
- Best Possible Finish: 69.30% India’s dominant victory over Australia in the opening Test of the Border-Gavaskar series has revitalized their campaign after a disappointing 3-0 home loss to New Zealand earlier this year. To secure a final spot, India must win at least three of their remaining matches.
South Africa (59.26% points)
- Remaining Matches: 3 (Sri Lanka home, Pakistan home)
- Best Possible Finish: 69.44% South Africa continued their strong run with a win against Sri Lanka at home. Victories in their remaining fixtures would guarantee their place in the WTC final.
Australia (57.69% points)
- Remaining Matches: 6 (India home, Sri Lanka away)
- Best Possible Finish: 71.05% Despite a loss to India in their opening Test, the defending champions remain contenders. However, they must win at least four of their six remaining matches to strengthen their qualification chances.
New Zealand (50% points)
- Remaining Matches: 2 (England home)
- Best Possible Finish: 57.14% New Zealand’s loss to England in Christchurch has dealt a severe blow to their campaign. Even if they win their remaining matches, their chances of a final berth remain unlikely.
Sri Lanka (50% points)
- Remaining Matches: 3 (South Africa away, Australia home)
- Best Possible Finish: 61.54% Sri Lanka’s heavy defeat in Durban leaves them in a precarious position. They must deliver exceptional performances in their remaining games to stay in contention.
England (43.75% points)
- Remaining Matches: 2 (New Zealand away)
- Best Possible Finish: 48.86% England’s recent win gives them momentum, but their earlier losses in this WTC cycle mean they are out of contention for the final.
Pakistan (33.33% points)
- Remaining Matches: 4 (South Africa away, West Indies home)
- Best Possible Finish: 52.38% Pakistan has shown improvement under coach Jason Gillespie but remains a long shot for a final spot, requiring an extraordinary finish to the cycle.
West Indies (26.67% points)
- Remaining Matches: 3 (Bangladesh home, Pakistan away)
- Best Possible Finish: 43.59% A win over Bangladesh lifted the West Indies from the bottom of the table, but their overall campaign remains disappointing.
Bangladesh (25.00% points)
- Remaining Matches: 1 (West Indies away)
- Best Possible Finish: 31.25% With only one Test left, Bangladesh will finish the cycle at the bottom, regardless of the outcome.