WTC Points Table: Australia take top spot- Under newly-appointed Test captain Pat Cummins, Australia won the Ashes with command to climb to the top of the WTC points table with 100% record. In the third Ashes Test, Scott Boland’s 6/7 helped them wrap up the match against Joe Root-led England in two and half days, taking an unassailable 3-0 lead in the series. Follow World Test Championship Live Updates on InsideSport.IN.
For Joe Root-led England, they are in a death spiral in Test cricket. Humiliating defeats and slow over-rates have moved them to the 7th spot on World Test Championships points table with just 7.14 percentage points. The humiliating loss to Australia in the 3rd Ashes Test meant, England now have just 6 points while 10 points have been deducted for slow over-rate. Virat Kohli-led India have a great opportunity to move up if they beat South Africa in the first Test.
WTC Points Table: Joe Root’s hopes of reaching maiden WTC Final fade further after Ashes humiliation, India eye big gain
England suffered an embarrassing an innings and 14-run loss to Australia at the MCG in Melbourne. Debutant Scott Boland was the hero with six wickets for just seven runs in the second innings and England collapsed yet again. They were dismissed for just 68 runs — their second below-100 score in a year. The result meant England lost the Ashes with Australia taking an unassailable 3-0 lead.
WTC Points Table: Joe Root’s hopes of reaching maiden WTC Final fade further after Ashes humiliation, India eye big gain
Ashes humiliation for England – Ben Stokes (11) was the first one to depart on Day 3 as he was clean bowled by Mitchell Starc. After this, Scott Boland got in the act and he cleaned up the England lower-order.
In his debut, Boland went on to take six wickets in the second innings to hand Australia a memorable victory. England was bowled out for just 68 in the second innings.
Skipper Joe Root (28) was the final nail in the coffin and England went down without showing any fight in the second innings of the third Test.
#Ashes retained ✅ pic.twitter.com/qhlKD69ciV
— Cricket Australia (@CricketAus) December 28, 2021
WTC Points Table: Joe Root’s hopes of reaching maiden WTC Final fade further after Ashes humiliation, India eye big gain
As for their WTC fate, it doesn’t look good. After seven Test matches, England are now placed 7th on the points table having lost five matches. They have won just one and drawn one — both against India. However, it is their penalty points that have bogged them down. England currently have 10 penalty points for slow over-rate, the highest amongst all Tets playing nations. Joe Root & Co are just ahead of Bangladesh who are yet to score after two matches.
WTC Points Table: Joe Root’s hopes of reaching maiden WTC Final fade further after Ashes humiliation, India eye big gain
India’s eye win: Meanwhile, Virat Kohli-led Team India are aiming for their maiden series win in South Africa. India started brilliantly in the first Test with KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal powering India to 272/3 on Day 1 before Day 2 was washed out. On Day 3, KL Rahul will be aiming to build up on his brilliant unbeaten knock of 122 while Ajinkya Rahane will be gunning for a century in over a year. He is also playing to save his career having been under the scanner for poor form.
WTC Points Table: Joe Root’s hopes of reaching maiden WTC Final fade further after Ashes humiliation, India eye big gain
WTC Points Table:
| Pos | Team | Matches | Won | Lost | Drawn | NR | Points | PCT Points | Penalty Points |
| 1 | Australia | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 36 | 100 | – |
| 2 | Sri Lanka | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 100 | – |
| 3 | Pakistan | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 36 | 75 | – |
| 4 | India | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 42 | 58.33 | 2 |
| 5 | West Indies | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 25 | – |
| 6 | New Zealand | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 16 | – |
| 7 | England | 6 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 8.33 | 10 |
| 8 | Bangladesh | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – |
