Australia top World Test Championship standings with series sweep over Pakistan

After a triumphant 2023, during which Pat Cummins’ team secured two significant ICC titles, World Test Championship Final and the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, Australia continue to showcase their dominance in 2024. 

In the New Year’s Test at the iconic Sydney Cricket Ground, the hosts secured a resounding eight-wicket victory over Pakistan, completing a 3-0 series sweep and ascending to the top of the World Test Championship standings.

The side also topped the MRF Tyres ICC Men’s Test Team rankings charts, following India’s 1-1 series draw in South Africa, on Friday, 5 January.

Australia are now No.1 on the WTC table with 56.25% points, overtaking India, who are now second-ranked with 54.16% points.

Pakistan meanwhile at No.6, experienced a significant decrease in percentage points, from 45.83 before the SCG Test to 36.66 after the defeat.

The visitors made a competitive first-innings score of 313 after opting to bat with Mohammad Rizwan (88), Agha Salman (53), and No.9 Aamer Jamal (82) making important fifties.

In response, they bowled Australia out for 299 courtesy of Jamal’s attack with the ball, returning impressive figures of 6/69. Pakistan had a slight edge over the hosts going into the second innings with a thin lead of 14 runs.

However, Pakistan’s second innings at the crease dramatically altered the course of the game. The Australian bowlers bowled them out for a modest 115, with Saim Ayub top-scoring with 33. Josh Hazlewood led the attack with 4/16 and was well complemented by experienced spinner Nathan Lyon (3/36).

The hosts chased down the target in just 25.5 overs, with Warner and Marnus Labuschagne contributing with match-winning fifties, on day four.