ICC World Test Championship 2025-27: State of Play

The ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 cycle has entered a crucial period as a number of teams are in action to make their case for the top two spots.

Defending champions South Africa have made a leap following a historic 2-0 series sweep in India.

Meanwhile, England continue their five-match Ashes series against Australia Down Under. Despite impressive form from England, Australia secured the Ashes within 11 playing days in the series, and continue to sit atop the standings with a 100 percent record in the current cycle.

Their neighbours, New Zealand also had a vehement start to their WTC campaign, with a 2-0 win in the three-match home series against West Indies. This has helped them overtake South Africa, and places them on the second spot.

We take a look at how each team stands in the cycle and what lies ahead:

1. Australia

Played: Six

Wins: Six

Points Percentage: 100

Leading run-scorer this cycle: Travis Head (603 runs)

Leading wicket-taker this cycle: Mitchell Starc (37 wickets)

Series remaining: ENG* (2), NZ (4), BAN (2), SA (3), IND (5)

The 2023 World Test Championship winners made a perfect start to the cycle with a series sweep over the West Indies in the Caribbean, and continued their run with a clinical Ashes retention following a 3-0 series win that was secured in Adelaide.

The Aussies have a strong record at home against England and are currently on a 18-match unbeaten run against their rivals. Australia are now in a very good position to make their third World Test Championship final appearance.

Following the series against England, Australia aren't scheduled to be back in Test action until the second half of 2026. Away tours to India and South Africa are scheduled in the latter part of the cycle with New Zealand visiting in late 2026.

2. New Zealand

Played: Three

Wins: Two

Points Percentage: 77.78

Leading run-scorer this cycle: Devon Conway (452 runs)

Leading wicket-taker this cycle: Jacob Duffy (23 wickets)

Series remaining: IND (2), SL (2), ENG (3), AUS (4), PAK (2)

The inaugural World Test Championship winners had to wait for their first appearance this cycle, but eventually became a part of the action with a three-game series against West Indies.

New Zealand had distinct advantage in a high-scoring draw, where the West Indies battled heavy odds to secure a sensational stalemate. The next Test saw a clinical Kiwi effort to win the game by nine wickets.

Having picked up the pace, New Zealand were unstoppable in the third Test, overpowering West Indies by 323 runs.

This encouraging win helped them overtake South Africa in the standings.

The major assignments for Tom Latham's side ahead are tours of England and Australia in 2026, while they will also host India towards the end of the year.

3. South Africa

Played: Four

Wins: Three

Points Percentage: 75

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 World Test Champions showed exactly why they hold the crown with a spectacular all-round display in a 2-0 series victory away to India. A first success on Indian soil after 25 years has propelled the Proteas to the third spot in the standings as things stand.

Having drawn the series against Pakistan, the Temba Bavuma-led side has now got two out of the three tricky away tours out of the way, winning three Tests in the process.

South Africa have testing assignments at home with both Australia and England set to visit for three and four Test matches respectively later in the cycle and there is still plenty of work to be done. The reigning champions however, have made a promising start to their defence.

4. Sri Lanka

Played: Two

Wins: One

Points Percentage: 66.67

Leading run-scorer this cycle: Pathum Nissanka (369 runs)

Leading wicket-taker this cycle: Tharindu Ratnayake (nine wickets)

Series remaining: IND (2), SA (2), WI (2), PAK (2), NZ (2)

The Asian side started the current campaign on a winning note as they secured a narrow 1-0 triumph over Bangladesh in the two-match series in June.

The road ahead though has plenty of testing series for Dhananjaya de Silva's side, with visits to the West Indies and Pakistan in 2026 among a group of tricky upcoming fixtures. India and South Africa, meanwhile, are also scheduled to tour in the current cycle.

5. Pakistan

Played: Two

Wins: One

Points Percentage: 50

Leading run-scorer this cycle: Shan Masood, Salman Agha (170 runs each)

Leading wicket-taker this cycle: Noman Ali (14 wickets)

Series remaining: SL (2), NZ (2), BAN (2), WI (2), ENG (3)

Pakistan drew the home Tests series against South Africa to start the cycle and won't be featuring in red-ball cricket until 2026 when they travel to Bangladesh for another two-match series.

The side is also scheduled to take on the West Indies and England away from home in 2026 and will be aiming to pick up some positive results during these potentially tricky tours. Visits from Sri Lanka and New Zealand too await in the ongoing cycle.

6. India

Played: Nine

Wins: Four

Points Percentage: 48.15

Leading run-scorer this cycle: Shubman Gill (950 runs)

Leading wicket-taker this cycle: Mohammed Siraj (39 wickets)

Series remaining: AUS (5), SL (2), NZ (2)

India find themselves in a bit of a sticky position following their 0-2 loss to South Africa at home. The two-time WTC runners-up have played half of their Test matches in the current cycle and have ground to make up in the remainder of their cycle.

India now have little margin for error in the race for a place in the final with their Points Percentage falling below 50.

Away series in Sri Lanka and New Zealand await the team in 2026, with the next installment of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia to follow as India vie for their third appearance in the summit clash.

7. England

Played: Eight

Wins: Two

Points Percentage: 27.08

Leading run-scorer this cycle: Joe Root (756 runs)

Leading wicket-taker this cycle: Ben Stokes (26 wickets)

Series remaining: NZ (3), PAK (3), AUS* (2), SA (3), BAN (2)

A 2-2 series result at home against India was a decent start to the cycle for Ben Stokes' side, but defeat in the first three of the five Tests against Australia has put England under immense pressure.

It's been slim pickings for the visitors in Australia in recent times, and the side will need to defy history if they are to qualify for a first World Test Championship decider.

With another tough away series against South Africa to come later in the cycle, along with visits from New Zealand and Pakistan, Ben Stokes and Co. will need to be at their very best to make their case for a top-two finish.

8. Bangladesh

Played: Two

Wins: Zero

Points Percentage: 16.66

Leading run-scorer this cycle: Najmul Hossain Shanto (300 runs)

Leading wicket-taker this cycle: Nayeem Hasan, Taijul Islam (nine wickets each)

Series remaining: PAK (2), WI (2), ENG (2), SA (2), AUS (2)

A draw against Sri Lanka in Galle was enough for Bangladesh to pick up their first points of the cycle, albeit in a series defeat. Najmul Hossain Shanto's side will be looking for more when they play Pakistan for a two-match series in the first half of 2026.

Difficult away series in Australia and South Africa are also scheduled for Bangladesh next year, alongside a visit from the West Indies for two Tests on home soil.

England are also set to tour Bangladesh later in the cycle.

9. West Indies

Played: Eight

Wins: Zero

Points Percentage: 4.19

Leading run-scorer this cycle: Shai Hope (534 runs)

Leading wicket-taker this cycle: Shamar Joseph (22 wickets)

Series remaining: SL (2), PAK (2), BAN (2)

The West Indies have lost seven of their eight Test matches in the current cycle with series losses to Australia at home and India and New Zealand on the road.

The lone bright spot for them was a fighting draw in Christchurch.

The side are in rebuild mode under Roston Chase, but their poor run of form has left them with plenty to work on in the ongoing ICC World Test Championship cycle.

The good thing is that two out of three of their upcoming WTC assignments are at home, and the team will hope to succeed in familiar conditions.