Australia top World Test Championship standings with series sweep over Pakistan
The formidable Aussies have surpassed India in the ICC World Test Championship 2023-25 standings after their convincing eight-wicket victory over Pakistan in the Sydney Test
After a triumphant 2023, during which Pat Cummins' team secured two significant ICC titles – the World Test Championship Final and the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup – Australia continue to showcase their dominance in 2024.
In the New Year's Test at the iconic Sydney Cricket Ground, the hosts secured a resounding eight-wicket victory over Pakistan, completing a 3-0 series sweep and ascending to the top of the World Test Championship standings.
ICC World Test Championship Standings 2023-25 - Powered by MRF Tyres
| POS | TEAM | PCT (%) | PTS | W | L | D | PEN |
| 1 | Australia | 56.25 | 54 | 5 | 2 | 1 | -10 |
| 2 | India | 54.16 | 26 | 2 | 1 | 1 | -2 |
| 3 | South Africa | 50.00 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | New Zealand | 50.00 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 5 | Bangladesh | 50.00 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 6 | Pakistan | 36.66 | 22 | 2 | 3 | 0 | -2 |
| 7 | West Indies | 16.67 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 8 | England | 15.00 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 1 | -19 |
| 9 | Sri Lanka | 0.00 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
PCT (%): Percentage
PTS: Number of points awarded
W: Number of matches won
L: Number of matches lost
D: Number of matches drawn
PEN: Number of penalty overs
A new No.1 side is crowned in the @MRFWorldwide ICC Men's Test Team Rankings 👑
— ICC (@ICC) January 5, 2024
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The side also topped the MRF Tyres ICC Men's Test Team Rankings charts, following India's 1-1 series draw in South Africa, on Friday, 5 January.
Australia are now No.1 on the WTC table with 56.25 percentage points, overtaking India, who are now second-ranked with 54.16 percentage points.
Pakistan meanwhile at No.6, experienced a significant decrease in percentage points – from 45.83 before the SCG Test to 36.66 after the defeat.
An applaudable fifty on his final Test outing 👏
— ICC (@ICC) January 6, 2024
David Warner signs off from the longest format of the game in style 🙌#WTC25 | 📝 #AUSvPAK: https://t.co/9HGJrXtJyq pic.twitter.com/OpK1sbU0Ta
The visitors made a competitive first-innings score of 313 after opting to bat with Mohammad Rizwan (88), Agha Salman (53), and No.9 Aamer Jamal (82) making important fifties.
In response, they bowled Australia out for 299 courtesy of Jamal's attack with the ball, returning impressive figures of 6/69. Pakistan had a slight edge over the hosts going into the second innings with a thin lead of 14 runs.
However, Pakistan's second innings at the crease dramatically altered the course of the game. The Australian bowlers bowled them out for a modest 115, with Saim Ayub top-scoring with a 33. Josh Hazlewood led the attack with 4/16 and was well complemented by experienced spinner Nathan Lyon (3/36).
The hosts chased down the target in just 25.5 overs, with Warner and Marnus Labuschagne contributing with match-winning fifties, on day four.