England secured a significant win at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, defeating Australia by four wickets on Boxing Day. This victory marked England’s first Test win on Australian soil in 19 matches and injected fresh energy into the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2025–2027 race.
Despite Australia’s prior 3-0 Ashes series triumph, the outcome of this Test match was a morale boost for Ben Stokes and his team. It also put an end to Australia’s unbeaten streak in the ongoing WTC cycle, providing an opportunity for other contenders to narrow the gap.
Before the Melbourne Test, Australia led the World Test Championship table with a flawless 100% points percentage. However, following their defeat, their points percentage decreased to 85.71%, though they maintained their top position. This loss allowed New Zealand and South Africa to move closer, occupying the second and third spots with 77.78% and 75% points percentages, respectively.
England earned 12 additional points from this Test, but they face a challenging path to qualify for the final. Despite the victory, England’s points percentage stands at 35.18%, ranking them seventh in the WTC table, significantly behind the top five teams. Nevertheless, the win has instilled momentum and confidence in England to enhance their standing in the WTC cycle.
India currently holds the sixth position with a points percentage of 48.15%. With Australia and New Zealand leading the charge, India must deliver exceptional performances in their upcoming matches to break into the top two positions.
The Ashes Series will move to the Sydney Cricket Ground for the final Test on January 4. Australia aims to reclaim control of the series and their WTC campaign, while England seeks to capitalize on their Melbourne performance and improve their standing in the WTC Championship rankings.
