Australia have consolidated their first place in the World Test Championship (WTC), while South Africa slipped outside the top two after the Aussies registered a stellar 214-run win over the Proteas at Kingsmead here on Tuesday.
Defending WTC winners South Africa have fallen to third place after the defeat, as inaugural champions New Zealand move to second place. They were docked two points for a slow over rate. The result has a significant effect on the WTC points table too, with 2023 champions Australia further tightening their stranglehold on the top spot in the nine-team table. New Zealand take the second spot with a PCT of 72.22 from six matches as they have four wins, a loss and a draw. Bangladesh are closely placed fourth in the standings with a PCT of 55.56 from six matches with three wins, two losses and a drawn game. India are currently fifth with only five wins from 11 matches, with four losses and two draws as their PCT stands at 51.52. England follow in sixth with seven wins in 16 matches, with eight losses and a draw as their PCT reads 38/54. The Three Lions have also been deducted 14 points for separate slow-over offences. Sri Lanka are seventh in the standings with one win, two losses and three draws from six matches as they have a PCT of 33.33, while West Indies are eighth with two wins, eight losses and two draws from 12 games and a PCT of 20.83. Pakistan are languishing at the bottom with two wins and seven losses from nine matches and have a PCT of 4.63. They were deducted 19 points for separate slow-over rate offences.
