Table of Contents
England‘s comprehensive victory over West Indies in the second Test at Trent Bridge has shaken up the World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25 points table. After a dominant display with both bat and ball, England clinched the Richards-Botham Trophy with a commanding 241-run win and an invincible lead of 2-0 in the three-match series. This result sealed the series win for the home side and propelled them up the WTC standings.
England’s emphatic win reshapes WTC 2023-25 standings
Before this match, England were precariously in ninth place on the WTC table. However, their clinical performance against the Windies has seen them make a significant climb, up three spots to sixth place, with 31.25 percentage points. This shift in the standings resulted from England’s emphatic win and the Windies’ underwhelming performance.
West Indies slump to ninth after Nottingham defeat
The West Indies, who began the series in a relatively comfortable sixth place in the WTC table, have suffered a setback after their crushing defeat at Nottingham. Their batting woes continued in the second Test, as they were bundled out for a paltry 143 runs while chasing a target of 385 runs. This capitulation has resulted in a three-place drop for the Windies, who now languish in ninth position with 22.22 percentage points.
India maintain top spot in WTC race
While England and the Windies witnessed contrasting fortunes after the Trent Bridge Test, India continue to reign supreme at the top of the WTC table. The current table leaders possess a healthy lead over the rest of the pack with 68.51 percentage points. India will face Bangladesh and New Zealand at home this season and then travel to Australia for a long tour to defend the Border Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) in December. That will indeed be the most crucial series of this WTC cycle for both sides. Rohit Sharma and company will be looking to maintain their position at the pinnacle of Test cricket.
Also READ: Fans erupt as Shoaib Bashir, Joe Root propel England to a series clinching win over West Indies in the 2nd Test
The race for the second spot heats up in the WTC Points Table
The battle for a spot in the World Test Championship final is intensifying, with Australia and New Zealand locked in a tight race for second place behind India. Sri Lanka and Pakistan are just a little behind, keeping the competition interesting as the tournament progresses.
Australia (2nd, Win %: 62.50): The Aussies have been in dominant form, winning four out of their last five matches. They will look to maintain their momentum and challenge India to be in the top spot.
New Zealand (3rd, Win %: 50.00): The Black Caps have a balanced record, with three wins and three losses in their last six matches. Their performance against India in the upcoming tour of India will be crucial in determining their final position.
Sri Lanka (4th, Win %: 50.00): Sri Lanka have shown promising signs, winning two out of their last four matches. They will need to continue their winning ways to climb up the table.
Pakistan (5th, Win %: 36.66): Pakistan’s recent form has been concerning, with three losses in their last five matches. They will need to find a winning combination to stay in contention for a spot in the final.
