ICC WTC Points Table: Australia Still On Top, Second-Placed India Close Gap After Stunning Win

Team India, on Tuesday, beat Australia by eight wickets in the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground to return to winning ways. The visitors had lost the first Test of the four-match series at the Adelaide Oval.

Thanks to their big lead of 131 runs in the first innings, India only had to chase 70 runs in the second innings. The Ajinkya Rahane-led side started on a shaky note with the bat as Mayank Agarwal and Cheteshwar Pujara failed to deliver. Those two wickets saw India getting reduced to 19 for 2. But before Australia could make further inroads in the game, Rahane and Shubman Gill steadied the ship.

The duo played some fine attacking shots to ease the pressure off themselves and went on to share an unbeaten stand of 51 runs to take their team home. Rahane, who scored a century in the first innings of the game, remained unbeaten on 27 while debutant Gill remained unbeaten on 35.

Earlier in the day, Australia were all out for 200 after starting the proceedings on 133 for 6. Pat Cummins and Cameron Green started the proceedings with the bat and frustrated India once again. It was only after the new ball was made available that the visitors managed to end the stubborn partnership between the two.

Jasprit Bumrah made the difference again by sending back Cummins for 22 to end the 57-run stand. Green’s knock came to an end when he played a loose shot off Mohammed Siraj before the pacer accounted for Nathan Lyon too. Ravichandran Ashwin brought an end to Australia’s innings by castling Josh Hazlewood.

ICC World Test Championship (WTC) Points table:

Riding on the stunning win, India have improved their points percentage in the ICC WTC points table which is now being determined by the percentage of points won rather than total points won. As a result, Australia are ahead of India despite having lesser number of points. Australia are at the top with 76.6% and 326 points. Before the start of the match, they had 83.5% of points.

India, on the hand, gained 30 points for the win and are at the second spot with 390 points and 72.2%. Before the start of the MCG Test, they had 72.2% of points. New Zealand, England and Pakistan complete the top five.

Here is the ICC World Test Championship points table:

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