Australia qualified for their second successive WTC final, beating India in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy on Sunday. (AP)
Defending champions Australia became the second team to qualify for the ICC World Test Championship final of the 2023-25 cycle as they overcame India by six wickets in the fifth Test at Sydney on Sunday. The victory also marked Australia’s 10-year drought, recording their first Border-Gavaskar Trophy by a 3-1 margin since 2015. Incidentally, the last four editions of the tournament had all ended in a 2-1 margin in favour of India since 2017.
Set a 162-run chase, Australia were reduced to 71 for three before they marched to their 11th win of the ongoing cycle.
The win elevated the Aussies to 130 points from 17 games this cycle, boosting their points percentage (PCT) to 63.72 and eliminating India who finished with a 50 PCT after 18 matches this edition. Five of India’s seven losses this cycle have come in their last two series, starting with a 0-3 home series whitewash against New Zealand. This is also the first time in three cycles where India have missed out on the WTC final.
AUS vs IND 5th Test Day 3 Highlights
Australia will join South Africa who booked their ticket to the final, to be held at Lord’s Cricket Ground between June 11-15 this year with a win over Pakistan in the recent Boxing Day Test. South Africa had become the fourth team to make the WTC final after India (2021 and 2023), Australia (2023) and inaugural winners New Zealand (2021).
South Africa’s WTC 2023-25 campaign began with a 1-1 home series draw against India before suffering a 0-2 defeat to New Zealand away in February this year. Temba Bavuma’s men then won successive series in West Indies and Bangladesh before trouncing Sri Lanka 2-0 at home earlier this month.
Australia will have two more Tests to go in Sri Lanka, starting later this month.
Australia and South Africa have met in 101 Tests with the former leading the head-to-head by an overwhelming 54-26 margin. The Proteas last met Australia in a Test on their 2022-23 tour Down Under, losing 2-0.
The WTC final will also mark the first neutral Test between the sides in 113 years since the Triangular Tournament held in England in 1912.
ICC World Test Championship Points Table updated as of January 5, 2025
|
Pos. |
Team |
Matches |
Points Played |
Points |
PCT |
|||
| P | W | L | D | |||||
| 1 | South Africa (Q) | 11 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 132 | 88 | 66.67 |
| 2 | Australia | 17 | 11 | 4 | 2 | 204 | 130 | 63.72 |
| 3 | India | 19 | 9 | 8 | 2 | 228 | 114 | 50.00 |
| 4 | New Zealand | 14 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 168 | 81 | 48.21 |
| 5 | Sri Lanka | 11 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 132 | 60 | 45.45 |
| 6 | England | 22 | 11 | 10 | 1 | 264 | 114 | 43.18 |
| 7 | Bangladesh (E) | 12 | 4 | 8 | 0 | 144 | 45 | 31.25 |
| 8 | Pakistan (E) | 11 | 4 | 7 | 0 | 132 | 40 | 30.30 |
| 9 | West Indies (E) | 11 | 2 | 7 | 2 | 132 | 32 | 24.24 |
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