Australia continued their supremacy at the top of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-2027 points table, riding on a phenomenal streak of five consecutive wins in the current edition. Under the leadership of stand-in skipper Steve Smith, the Baggy Green extended its lead in the ongoing Ashes series, moving to a commanding 2-0 scoreline against their arch-rivals, England.
Australia sit on top of WTC 2025-2027 points table:
Australia crushed England by eight wickets at the iconic Gabba in Brisbane on December 7. Beyond extending their grip on the Ashes, the Australian side has maintained stellar form throughout the current ICC World Test Championship cycle. They boast a perfect record, having won all five of their matches without suffering a single loss or conceding a draw in the competition. This flawless performance puts them on track to potentially secure their third entry into the WTC final. Meanwhile, England were left reeling at seventh spot, after back-to-back defeats against Australia. England have notched just 2 wins in seven matches in the current cycle.
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Here is how the updated WTC 2025-2027 points table:
| Pos | Team | Played | Won | Lost | Draw | Ded | Points | PCT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Australia | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 60 | 100.00 |
| 2 | South Africa | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 36 | 75.00 |
| 3 | Sri Lanka | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 16 | 66.67 |
| 4 | Pakistan | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 50.00 |
| 5 | India | 9 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 52 | 48.15 |
| 6 | New Zealand | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 33.33 |
| 7 | England | 7 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 26 | 30.95 |
| 8 | Bangladesh | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 16.67 |
| 9 | West Indies | 6 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 5.56 |
How did the match unfold?
Joe Root scored his first three-figure score in Test on Australian soil. The English great notched his 40th Test hundred during the first innings, providing his team with a much-needed respectable start. Despite this personal triumph and initial contribution, his century ultimately proved to be in vain as the Australian team collectively outperformed the tourists.
The tide of the game was decisively turned by Australian paceman Mitchell Starc, who delivered another crucial performance, including a key six-wicket haul in the series. Starc has been in stellar form, having already picked up 18 wickets across the two games, following his Player of the Series performance against the West Indies in the Caribbean. However, Starc's influence wasn't limited to his bowling. His aggressive knock of 77 runs tormented the English bowlers on Day 3, pushing Australia past the 500-run mark and securing a commanding 170-run first-innings advantage. This inning proved to be an immense, game-changing contribution.
While Root's century was a high point for England, Australia's victory was built on a collective batting effort. Multiple players contributed significant half-centuries, though Travis Head and Cameron Green narrowly missed out on their fifties, still offering promising scores. The game's second major turning point came with Michael Neser's exceptional 5-wicket haul, which saw England bowled out for just 241 in their second innings. Australia comfortably chased the 65-run target with 8 wickets remaining, securing another comprehensive win.
Australian skipper Pat Cummins has been sidelined since July 2025, but his much-anticipated comeback is expected to occur in the Ashes series. While he was nearly fit for the Gabba Test, it is now assured that he will be making his return at Adelaide.