Are you looking for the WTC 2023-25 points table? We have that and more in this article, but first up, what is the World Test Championship or WTC as the ICC calls it?
In simpler word, it is referred to as the Test World Cup by cricket fans. It is a league competition that runs across two years in the longest format of the sport and at the end of it, top two teams in the points table clash in the final to be crowned as the champions of the Test format.
The championship is also in line with ICC’s goal of having one pinnacle tournament for each of the three formats in the international circuit.
Interestingly, the ICC was planning for such a tournament in 2009 only. Perhaps, the plan was to shelve the ICC Champions Trophy in 2013 and replace it with the World Test Championship. But those plans were abandoned and WTC was rescheduled to June 2017. The format was also an interesting one with the top four ranked teams on December 31, 2016 – the cut-off date, get involved in a three-match Test Championship tournament.
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The plan was to have to two semi-finals between four teams first and then the winners face off in the grand final. Unfortunately, even this plan was cancelled and more importantly, the ICC Champions Trophy for June 2017 was reinstated again.
In October 2017 though ICC and the full member nations agreed upon the World Test Championship (WTC) with nine teams contesting for the trophy. It was decided that all the teams would play six series over the course of two years and at the end of the cycle, the top two teams will contest in the final.
Accordingly, in August 2019, the inaugural edition of the ICC World Test Championship, finally got underway with the Ashes series.
Contents
WTC Points System
Initially, the WTC Points System was debatable and different with ICC allotting 120 points per series irrespective of the length of the series. Each team was to play a total of six series in the cycle and thereby, 720 points were up for grabs. But this affected the teams playing three to five-match series more as opposed to teams playing only two-match series.
For a two-match series, teams would get 60 points per Test match victory while for three-match series, the points came down 40 per win. Moreover, in a five-match series, teams ended up getting only 24 points per win. This created a lot of debate with experts pointing how it is unfair for teams playing longer series.
Hence, partly for the inaugural edition and then permanently since the second edition, the ICC decided to change the points system. According to the new rules, irrespective of the series length, each team was awarded 12 points for a win, 6 points for a tie, and 4 points for a draw.
Also, to make it fair for all nine contesting teams, ICC decided not to consider the mere number of points to determine the leaderboard. Instead, the points percentage system (PCT) was introduced where the points table was determined by PCT and it’s formula read –
PCT = Points won by a team/ Points contested * 100
This sorted a lot of issues and finally, all teams were on the common ground in terms of points calculation in WTC. This is reflected in the WTC 2023-25 points table which we will get to later in the article.
Ricky Ponting and Nasser Hussain proposed solutions to curb down slow over-rate in Test cricket 💬
— ICC (@ICC) August 3, 2023
More ➡ https://t.co/WTsKkvLmDV pic.twitter.com/t5Bs5o0gdH
Which teams participate?
Top nine teams in Test rankings contest in the World Test Championship. These teams are – India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Australia, Bangladesh, West Indies, England and New Zealand.
Previous Winners of WTC
WTC 2019-21
The inaugural edition of the World Test Championship started in August 2019 and it all culminated before June 2021 when the first-ever final was set to be played. The cycle was disrupted with several Test series getting cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. This is when ICC decided to change the points system which paved the way for New Zealand who became the first team to make it to the final of the edition.
On the other hand, India pulled off a stunning series win in Australia breaching their Gabba fortress as well, and made it to the title clash in Southampton. The final of the inaugural of WTC took place from June 18 to June 23 at the Rose Bowl and the action went into the reserve day as well with rain playing spoilsport on most of the days.
The conditions were overcast right through and pace bowlers dominated the proceedings. India were bundled out for just 217 runs in the first innings after which New Zealand could only manage a 32-run lead posting 249 runs. However, things turned dramatically in the second innings with the Indian batting collapsing under pressure as they could only muster 170 runs in their second essay.
New Zealand were set a target of 139 on the final day of the WTC Final and they did so in 46th over with eight wickets in hand to be crowned as inaugural WTC Champions.
WTC 2021-23
The second edition of the WTC started in July 2021 and it all culminated with the Test series between India and Australia in March 2023. The two teams played some excellent cricket over the course of two years to make it to the final of the second edition. Sri Lanka were the surprise package this time around as they were in the hunt to make it to the final until their last Test against New Zealand away from home.
The summit clash this time was contested at the Kennington Oval in London as Australia dominated the proceedings right through. After being invited to bat first, they scored 469 runs in their first innings thanks to centuries from Steve Smith and Travis Head. In response, Ajinkya Rahane kept the fight going for India as they avoided the follow-on before getting bundled out on 296 runs in their first innings.
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However, the massive 173-run lead played its part as India were set a target of 444 runs to win. But India yet again crumbled in their second consecutive final losing their last seven wickets for just 55 runs eventually losing their second consecutive WTC Final, by 209 runs, only for Australia to be crowned Champions of Test format.
WTC 2023-25
The third cycle of the World Test Championship began with the Ashes series yet again between defending champions Australia and England. During the five-match series, India and West Indies began their campaign in the WTC alongside Sri Lanka and Pakistan also locked horns. Before we move ahead, let us look at the WTC 2023-25 Points Table:
WTC 2023-25 Points Table
| Sr No | Teams | Matches | Won | Lost | Draw | Points | PCT |
| 1 | Pakistan | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 100 |
| 2 | India | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 16 | 66.67 |
| 3 | Australia | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 18 | 30 |
| 4 | West Indies | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 16.67 |
| 5 | England | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 9 | 15 |
| 6 | Sri Lanka | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| 7 | Bangladesh | – | – | – | – | ||
| 8 | New Zealand | – | – | – | – | ||
| 9 | South Africa | – | – | – | – |
How the WTC 2023-25 points table was built: Series played in the cycle
Ashes
The WTC cycle got underway with the five-match Ashes series between Australia and England. England were the hosts this time around but that didn’t stop the champions Australia from taking a 2-0 lead after the first two matches. Both games were closely contested and Australia kept their nerves despite England being aggressive all the time.
Amidst all the criticism, England didn’t change their Bazball approach at all and pocketed the closely contested third Test by only three wickets. Their dominance continued in the fourth Test played in Manchester as well. They were only five wickets away from victory but rain never relented on the final day and were robbed of a well deserved victory. The draw in this Test also washed away their hopes of regaining the Ashes from Australia.
However, England didn’t let their guard down and dominated the Aussies with their Bazball approach in the fifth and final Test. Australia did put up a solid fight but eventually succumbed in the 384-run chase losing by 49 runs. Arguably the most exciting Ashes series played since 2005, ended at 2-2 with Australia managing to retain the urn.
Stuart Broad bid adieu to his illustrious career in the final Test while Moeen Ali also confirmed his Test retirement once again. Despite winning two Tests each, Australia were docked 10 points and England 19 points for slow over-rate affecting their position in the WTC Points table.
West Indies vs India
Putting behind the disappointment of yet another WTC Final loss, India toured West Indies for a two-match Test series with yet another shot at making the WTC Final. And the Rohit Sharma-led side put on a stunning display in the Caribbean to wrap the opening game of the series inside only three days.
West Indies were just a no match to the superior Indian team as debutant Yashasvi Jaiswal sizzled on his international debut. The left-hander slammed 171 in his first Test innings as India pocketed the first Test by an innings and 141 runs thanks to Ravichandran Ashwin’s 12-fer with the ball in the match.
India’s dominance continued in the second and final Test of the series with Virat Kohli shining this time. The man slammed a sedate 121 to prope the team’s score to 438 runs in the first innings. West Indies improved this time around with the bat and made India bowlers toil hard for almost 116 overs before getting bundled out for just 255 runs. Skipper Kraigg Brathwaite was the star for them mustering 75 runs off a massive 235 balls.
No play on the final day in Trinidad as the second Test between the West Indies and India ends in a draw.#WTC25 | 📝 #WIvIND: https://t.co/4hUd6BPlKw pic.twitter.com/9TD5qbvg4l
— ICC (@ICC) July 24, 2023
But India tried to make a match out of nowhere with clumsy weather around scoring 181/2 in just 24 overs before declaring. By the end of the fourth day, they picked two West Indies wickets but come the final day, rain never stopped eventually helping the hosts eke out a draw.
Sri Lanka vs Pakistan
Pakistan toured Sri Lanka for two Tests as third series of this WTC cycle got underway on July 16, 2023. After opting to bat first in the opener, Sri Lanka survived the early jitters and posted 312 runs in their first innings after struggling at 54/4 at one stage. They then had Pakistan reeling at 101/5 at one stage.
But Saud Shakeel made them toil hard in the middle with a stunning double century and Agha Salman also smashed 83 runs as Pakistan took a 149-run lead in the first innings. For the second time in as many innings, Dhananjaya de Silva stepped up for the hosts and backed up the 122-run knock in the first innings with yet another 82 delaying the inevitable for his team.
Thanks to his partnership of 76 runs with Ramesh Mendis for the seventh wicket, Sri Lanka could set a target of 130 runs for Pakistan. Chasing the moderate total, Pakistan did stutter losing six wickets but they were always in control and ended up winning their first Test of new WTC cycle.
Sri Lanka were hoping for a better show in the second and final Test of the series. But again, after opting to bat first, they put on a torrid show skittling for just 166 runs in 48.4 overs. It was yet again Dhananjaya de Silva for them scoring 57 with very little support at the other end.
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Abdullah Shafi que, Pakistan opener, stood up for the team this time around scoring a massive double century. While rest of the batters supported him well, Agha Salman continued his brilliant form smashing an unbeaten 132 as Pakistan declared on 576/5 in their first innings taking a huge 410-run lead over the hosts.
Exhausted after fielding for 134 overs, Sri Lanka batters played poor shots and despite veteran Angelo Mathews putting up a fight with an unbeaten 63, they went down meekly. Once again, their batting lasted for only 67.4 overs and were folded for only 188 runs thereby losing the match by an innings and 222 runs.
