Updated World Test Championship 2023-25 Points Table: Sri Lanka Climbs To 3rd Position After Defeating New Zealand 2-0

Updated World Test Championship 2023-25 Points Table: Sri Lanka's men's cricket team have continued their sublime form in the longest format after defeating New Zealand 2-0 in a Test series and have thus kept their hopes alive of finishing in the top two in the WTC standings. They won the series opener by 63 runs in Galle and then went on to win the second Test match by an innings and 154 runs, which is also one of their biggest victories in the history of the format. This whitewash has helped them get a win percentage of 55.56% and they have become one of the top contenders to qualify for the summit clash.

As per the latest WTC points table, the Rohit Sharma-led side and Australia are lying at the first and the second position, whereas Sri Lanka has jumped to the third position. To qualify for the summit clash, Sri Lanka has to secure a higher percentage than either the Men in Blue or Australia. Although India is currently the table toppers, it is the Aussies who have become vulnerable since they have a PCT of 52.50 whereas Sri Lanka has a PCT of 55.56%. The Pat Cummins-led side will lock horns with India for the much-awaited five-match Test series and that will play a huge role as the result of this series would affect Sri Lanka's chances of qualifying.

Updated WTC standings

Pos.	Team	Matches				Points deducted	Contested	Points Won	PCT
		P	W	L	D
1	India	10	7	2	1	2	120	86	71.67
2	Australia	12	8	3	1	10	144	90	62.5
3	Sri Lanka	9	5	4	0	0	108	60	55.55
4	England	16	8	7	1	19	192	81	42.19
5	Bangladesh	7	3	4	0	3	84	33	39.29
6	South Africa	6	2	3	1	0	72	28	38.89
7	New Zealand	8	4	4	0	0	96	36	37.5
8	Pakistan	7	2	5	0	8	84	16	19.05
9	West Indies	9	1	6	2	0	108	20	18.52

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Sri Lanka advances

At the same time, the Tim Southee-led side has slipped to the seventh position in the points table after suffering a humiliating series loss against Sri Lanka. They have a PCT of 37.50 after winning just three matches of the eight that they have played. Before this series, they were lying in the third position but lost to Sri Lanka in both matches. They did fight back during the second innings of the second Test match by scoring 335 runs but their first innings total of 88 runs led to their downfall.

Sri Lankan off-spinner Nishan Peiris, who made his debut in the longest format in this series, played a huge role as he took seven wickets in the last Test match and helped his team script history. At the same time, Prabath Jayasuriya was adjudged the Player of the Series award for taking 18 wickets at an average of 21.38 and thus led his team's formidable bowling attack from the front.

Their next two-match Test series would be against South Africa later this year and would then lock horns with Australia at their home next year. If they win both these series then they will secure a win percentage of 69.23 and then they would all but qualify for the summit clash.

On the other hand, the Tim Southee-led side will have to bounce back as their next Test series is against the Men in Blue. They are all but out of the race of finishing in the top two and they will have to perform consistently in the remainder of the matches to go up the points table.