World Test Championship - State of Play ahead of 2025 final

ICC World Test Championship 2025 Standings

The first Test of each of the four ongoing Test series is complete and has altered the face of the World Test Championship 2023-25 Standings.

Following England's win over New Zealand in Christchurch, both sides were penalised three WTC points for maintaining a slow over-rate. This means that the Black Caps have dropped to the fifth place in the standings, and their chances of making it to the summit clash have taken a significant hit.

On the other hand, India and South Africa’s emphatic wins have boosted their chances of making it to Lord’s next year, while defeats for Sri Lanka and Australia mean the two sides need to lift their game to improve their point percentage in the World Test Championship.

With a victory over Bangladesh at home, West Indies have lifted themselves from the bottom of the WTC standings.

A look at how each side stands.

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 - South Africa - 59.26% of possible points

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

Best Possible Finish: 69.44%

Carrying on the form from their impressive series win over Bangladesh in the sub-continent to home, South Africa secured a brilliant win over Sri Lanka in the opening Test of their home season. This has helped them overtake Australia, New Zealand, and Sri Lanka to secure the second spot in the WTC Standings.

The following three games are extremely important for South Africa, for if they continue this winning run, they'll be safely placed to make the World Test Championship irrespective of how the other sides fare.

Third - 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.

Fourth - Sri Lanka - 50% of possible points

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

Best Possible Finish: 61.54%

A head-turning victory over England in the third Test in England followed by a 2-0 whitewash of New Zealand at home was the highlight of Sri Lanka's recent Test returns, and the island nation went to South Africa confidently.

However, a big loss in Durban means that the Asian side needs to recalibrate its approach and bounce back in the second Test of the series.

If Sri Lanka can pinch a victory in the second Test, it could still 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.

Fifth - New Zealand - 47.92% of possible points

Remaining matches: England (home, two Tests)

Best possible finish: 55.36%

A historic series sweep in India had bolstered New Zealand's hope of claiming a second World Test Championship title but their chances have taken a severe hit following a loss to Ben Stokes’ England in the first Test in Christchurch.

New Zealand's hopes have been further dented after they were penalised three points for a slow over-rate in the first Test. As a result, they have dropped to fifth in the standings, having previously shared fourth place with Sri Lanka.

Even with wins in their remaining two fixtures, New Zealand cannot breach the all-important 60% point percentage mark on the World Test Championship table.

While they aren’t out mathematically, several favourable equations are needed for Tom Latham’s side to make it to Lord’s next year.

Sixth - England - 42.50% of possible points

Remaining matches: New Zealand (away, two Tests)

Best possible finish: 47.72%

While a rampant home season had sparked some hopes for England, consecutive losses in Pakistan has seen them drop out of contention for a spot at next year's final.

They began their final outing in the WTC, a three-match series against the Black Caps towards the end of November on a positive note with an eight-wicket win.

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.

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

Eighth - Bangladesh - 31.25% of possible points

Remaining matches: Nil

Best Possible Finish: 31.25%

The Asian side finished their campaign on a high with an impressive 101-run victory over the West Indies that helped them off the bottom of the World Test Championship standings.

While it has been a relatively disappointing cycle for Bangladesh, they will be buoyed by the fact they won three Test matches away from home that included a series sweep over Pakistan earlier this year.

That gives Bangladesh some hope for the next cycle, though they will want to find some more consistent results on home soil.

Ninth - West Indies - 24.24% of possible points

Remaining matches: Pakistan (away, two matches)

Best Possible Finish: 35.90%

Inconsistency has plagued the West Indies for much of the current cycle, with some of their best moments often followed by disappointing efforts.

The highlight so far was their moment of glory against Australia in Brisbane in early 2024, while their recent triumph over Bangladesh at home in the first Test showed what they are capable of when producing their best cricket.

A batting collapse in the first innings of the second Test against Bangladesh proved too much for the West Indies to overturn as they fell to a 101-run loss in Jamaica to drop to ninth place on the standings, but they at least get the chance to finish on a high with a two-match series in Pakistan early in 2025.