State of Play at the ICC World Test Championship 2025–27

Last campaign's runners-up Australia head the standings in the ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 cycle with eight wins coming in 10 games.

South Africa are not too far away, in second with 36 points from four games.

As the cycle enters a crucial phase, the teams now look to strengthen their case for a top-two finish.

In the recent weeks, we've witnessed some enticing World Test Championship action.

The series in Australia had a thrilling start as Bangladesh scripted a historic victory in the first Test even as the hosts made a comeback in the second to level the series.

India got back to winning ways with a stellar 165-run victory in Galle, before a brilliant fight led by Sonal Dinusha helped Sri Lanka secure a famous draw in Colombo.

England followed up their thumping win against Pakistan in Leeds with another big victory at Lord’s and eventually a comfortable triumph in Edgbaston, to take a 3-0 series sweep.

There will be many more changes in the standings as the quest for the WTC Final continues, and exciting contests are played over the 2026/27 season.

Take a look at the updated standings here.

We take a look at how the teams stack up in the standings.

1. Australia

Played: Ten
Wins: Eight
Points Percentage: 80
Leading run-scorer this cycle: Travis Head (914 runs)
Leading wicket-taker this cycle: Mitchell Starc (58 wickets)
Series remaining: SA (3), NZ (4), IND (5)

The 2023 World Test Championship winners have made a near-perfect start to the cycle. A series sweep over West Indies in the Caribbean was followed by a dominant Ashes retention at home.

A surprise defeat to Bangladesh cut Australia's lead at the top of the ICC World Test Championship standings, but they bounced back with a win in Mackay to strengthen their position further.

With just two defeats in ten matches, Australia remain firmly on course for a third consecutive WTC Final appearance.

Challenging away tours to India and South Africa await later in the cycle, while New Zealand are set to visit them towards the end of 2026 for a four-Test series.

2. South Africa

Played: Four
Wins: Three
Points Percentage: 75.00
Leading run-scorer this cycle: Tony de Zorzi (278 runs)
Leading wicket-taker this cycle: Simon Harmer (30 wickets)
Series remaining: AUS (3), BAN (2), ENG (3), SL (2)

The defending champions have underlined their credentials with a commanding 2-0 away series win over India - their first success on Indian soil in 25 years.

Having also drawn a series against Pakistan, the Temba Bavuma-led side has already navigated two challenging away tours, emerging with three wins.

Testing home assignments await, with Australia and England set to visit later in the cycle. South Africa have made a strong start, but there is still significant work ahead in their title defence.

3. New Zealand

Played: Six
Wins: Four
Points Percentage: 72.22
Leading run-scorer this cycle: Devon Conway (676 runs)
Leading wicket-taker this cycle: Jacob Duffy (23 wickets)
Series remaining: IND (2), SL (2), AUS (4), PAK (2)

The inaugural WTC champions had to wait for their first outing this cycle but made an immediate impact against the West Indies.

After a hard-fought high-scoring draw, New Zealand bounced back with a clinical nine-wicket win before sealing the series emphatically with a 323-run victory in the third Test.

The Black Caps strengthened their position near the top of the standings with a memorable 2-1 away series victory over England.

After losing the opening Test, New Zealand bounced back with successive victories to finish the tour strongly and improve to four wins from six matches this cycle.

Home series against India and Sri Lanka are on the horizon along with demanding away tours of Australia and Pakistan.

4. Bangladesh

Played: Six
Wins: Three
Points Percentage: 55.56
Leading run-scorer this cycle: Najmul Hossain Shanto (647 runs)
Leading wicket-taker this cycle: Taijul Islam (24 wickets)
Series remaining: WI (2), ENG (2), SA (2)

Bangladesh have made a competitive start to the cycle despite losing their opening series in Sri Lanka.

Their victories have kept them firmly in contention heading into a crucial run of fixtures.

A stunning away victory over Australia has given Bangladesh a major boost in their race for a place in the ICC World Test Championship Final. Combined with their earlier home series win over Pakistan, the result has put Bangladesh in a strong position as they look to build on their momentum. 

Bangladesh will now aim to carry this form into their upcoming home series against the West Indies and England and the challenging away series against South Africa.

5. India

Played: Eleven
Wins: Five
Points Percentage: 51.52
Leading run-scorer this cycle: Shubman Gill (1024 runs)
Leading wicket-taker this cycle: Mohammed Siraj (43 wickets)
Series remaining: AUS (5), NZ (2)

After a high-octane drawn series against England, India find themselves under pressure following a 0-2 home series defeat to South Africa. The two-time WTC runners-up have crossed the halfway stage of their campaign with ground to make up.

With little margin for error moving forward, India needed the best possible start in Sri Lanka before their challenges against New Zealand (away) and Australia (home).

A ton from Devdutt Padikkal and a sensational bowling performance from Manav Suthar gave them a brilliant win in Galle. They looked well placed to make it 2-0 in Colombo, but a resilient Sri Lankan fightback saw the second Test end in a draw. India won the series 1-0, though they would have wanted to take more points from the tour.

Next up for India are two Tests in New Zealand. Their quest to reclaim the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia at home could also boost their chances of reaching the WTC27 Final.

6. England

Played: 16
Wins: Seven
Points Percentage: 38.54
Leading run-scorer this cycle: Joe Root (1272 runs)
Leading wicket-taker this cycle: Josh Tongue (64 wickets)
Series remaining: SA (3), BAN (2)

England followed their win at Leeds and Lord's with an eight-wicket victory over Pakistan to seal their three-match series on a perfect note. 

England have won seven of their 16 Tests in the current cycle, while also suffering series defeats to New Zealand and Australia. They have also been docked points for maintaining a slow over-rate in their clashes.

Despite the positive outcomes against Pakistan, England have only two series remaining in this cycle, against South Africa and Bangladesh respectively.

Interestingly, both the highest run-getter and wicket-taker in this cycle belong to England, in the form of Joe Root and Josh Tongue.

7. Sri Lanka

Played: Six 
Wins: One
Points Percentage: 33.33
Leading run-scorer this cycle: Sonal Dinusha (606 runs)
Leading wicket-taker this cycle: Asitha Fernando (25 wickets)
Series remaining: SA (2), PAK (2), NZ (2)

Sri Lanka opened the cycle with a series victory over Bangladesh but were unable to build on that momentum, losing their subsequent away series to West Indies.

They also suffered a loss at home to India in Galle, but fought back strongly in Colombo to secure a draw. A resilient batting effort, led once again by Sonal Dinusha, helped Sri Lanka hold on and deny India a series sweep.

With only one win from six Tests, they face an uphill battle as difficult series against South Africa, New Zealand and Pakistan still lie ahead.

8. West Indies

Played: 12
Wins: Two
Points Percentage: 20.83
Leading run-scorer this cycle: Shai Hope (792 runs)
Leading wicket-taker this cycle: Shamar Joseph (35 wickets)
Series remaining: BAN (2)

West Indies secured their second win of the cycle in the first Test against Pakistan but failed to carry that momentum into the second. The drawn series sees them sit at the second-last place in this edition of the WTC cycle. 

Earlier, West Indies earned a timely boost with a 1-0 series victory in Sri Lanka, securing their first series win of the cycle after drawing the second Test.

Currently in a rebuilding phase under captain Roston Chase, West Indies will be hoping to finish the cycle on a strong note when they face Bangladesh in their final series of the campaign.

9. Pakistan

Played: Nine
Wins: Two
Points Percentage: 14.81
Leading run-scorer this cycle: Shan Masood (546 runs)
Leading wicket-taker this cycle: Mohammad Abbas (41 wickets)
Series remaining: SL (2), NZ (2)

After a strong comeback in the West Indies to tie the series, Pakistan had a tough start to their England tour. In the absence of Babar Azam, the side succumbed to an innings loss in Leeds.

They were unable to turn things around at Lord’s, suffering a 194-run defeat despite a fine nine-wicket haul from Mohammad Abbas. The loss saw Pakistan’s points percentage drop further in the standings.

Despite a number of changes in the third Test at Edgbaston, Pakistan lost the series 3-0, further denting their points percentage.