How Australia Managed to Qualify for the WTC Finals 2023–2025?
The defending World Test Champions, Australia, will face South Africa in the WTC Final from June 11 to 15, 2025. Australia secured their spot by winning 13 out of 19 Tests in the 2023–2025 cycle, showcasing consistent performances both at home and away. They finished second on the points table with a PCT of 67.54%.
One of the most dominant teams in the World Test Championship tournament and the team that will be defending the World Test Championship Mace against South Africa at Lord’s, London, Australia, has done well in this 2023–2025 period. They managed to pip their opponents and finally qualify for the WTC Final of the tournament. They now have a chance to double up on their title. Australia played a total of 19 Test matches during this WTC cycle, winning 13, losing 4, and drawing 2, to finish second on the points table with 154 points and a Points Percentage (PCT) of 67.54.
| Rank | Team | Matches (M) | Wins (W) | Losses (L) | Ties (T) | Draws (D) | No Result (N/R) | Points (PT) | PCT (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Africa | 12 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 100 | 69.44 |
| 2 | Australia | 19 | 13 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 154 | 67.54 |
| 3 | India | 19 | 9 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 114 | 50.00 |
| 4 | New Zealand | 14 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 81 | 48.21 |
| 5 | England | 22 | 11 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 114 | 43.18 |
| 6 | Sri Lanka | 13 | 5 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 60 | 38.46 |
| 7 | Bangladesh | 12 | 4 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 45 | 31.25 |
| 8 | West Indies | 13 | 3 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 44 | 28.21 |
| 9 | Pakistan | 14 | 5 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 47 | 27.98 |
Their journey began with the high-profile Ashes series in England, where they clinched memorable wins at Edgbaston and Lord’s, drew the series 2-2, and retained the Ashes in a fiercely competitive battle. They returned home to host Pakistan, winning the series 3-0 dominantly. This series also marked the farewell of David Warner, who signed off with a half-century in his final Test. Mitchell Marsh and Pat Cummins were instrumental throughout the series with bat and ball. Against the West Indies, Australia had a mixed series. They won easily in Adelaide but were stunned by an inspired performance from Shamar Joseph in Brisbane, who bowled with a broken toe to hand West Indies their first Test win over Australia in over 20 years. Australia then toured New Zealand, where they swept the two-Test series 2-0.
Australia are all set to defend their prestigious World Test Championship title against first-time finalists South Africa at Lord's 👊🤩#WTC25 #WTCFinal
— ICC (@ICC) January 6, 2025
Details for the blockbuster contest ➡ https://t.co/Vkw8u3mpa6 pic.twitter.com/L0BMYWSxNZ
| Opponent | Venue | Tests Played | Series Result | Key Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| England | Away | 5 | Drawn 2-2 | Thrilling wins at Edgbaston & Lord’s; retained Ashes; rain saved them at Old Trafford |
| Pakistan | Home | 3 | Won 3-0 | Dominant series; Warner’s farewell; Marsh and Cummins starred |
| West Indies | Home | 2 | Drawn 1-1 | Huge win in Adelaide; Shamar Joseph inspired upset in Brisbane |
| New Zealand | Away | 2 | Won 2-0 | Green, Lyon, Carey shine; hard-fought chase in Christchurch |
| India | Home | 5 | Won 3-1 | Regained Border-Gavaskar Trophy; Head, Smith, and Cummins pivotal |
| Sri Lanka | Away | 2 | Won 2-0 | Kuhnemann & Lyon spun out Sri Lanka; Khawaja double-century; Inglis debut ton |
| TOTAL | — | 19 | Won 13, Lost 4, Drawn 2 | Finished 2nd in WTC table with 154 points and 67.54% PCT |
Cameron Green, Nathan Lyon, and Alex Carey were key contributors in hard-fought wins, especially in the tense final Test in Christchurch. Back at home, they hosted India for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Despite a heavy loss in the first Test in Perth, Australia bounced back to win the series 3-1, with standout performances from Travis Head, Steve Smith, Scott Boland, and Pat Cummins. They officially confirmed their WTC Final qualification after this series. Finally, they wrapped up their campaign with a dominant 2-0 win in Sri Lanka, with spinners Kuhnemann and Lyon sharing the spoils, and Usman Khawaja, Steve Smith and Josh Inglis delivering with the bat.
Australia vs England – Series Tied 2-2
The biggest Test series possible, the 2023 Ashes, saw Australia edge England 2-2 in a thrilling five-match showdown, retaining the urn. At Edgbaston, Australia won by two wickets, thanks to a nervy 55-run stand between Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon, chasing 281 as Usman Khawaja’s 141 anchored them. Lord’s followed with a 43-run victory, sparked by Alex Carey’s controversial stumping of Jonny Bairstow, despite Ben Stokes’ fiery counterattack.
The unforgettable 2023 #Ashes series ends 2-2, with Australia retaining the urn! pic.twitter.com/jTBufwPR2m
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) July 31, 2023
England hit back at Headingley, winning by three wickets, with Mark Wood’s pace and Harry Brook’s flair chasing 251, fueled by Mitchell Marsh’s 118 for Australia. Rain saved Australia at Old Trafford, where England’s 592, led by Zak Crawley’s 189 and Bairstow’s ton, set a dominant tone, but Labuschagne’s century kept them alive for a draw. At The Oval, England leveled the series with a 49-run win, as Moeen Ali’s 4/11 and Stuart Broad’s final-ball wicket capped a dramatic collapse from Australia’s 264/3. Khawaja’s consistency and Wood’s lightning spells defined a series of high drama.
Australia vs Pakistan: Won 3-0
After the Ashes, Australia welcomed Pakistan for a three-Test series in December 2023-January 2024, sweeping it 3-0 with commanding performances. In the first Test at Perth, David Warner’s 164 and Mitch Marsh’s 90 set up a massive 487, earning a 216-run lead. Pakistan crumbled to 89, with Nathan Lyon’s 500th Test wicket sealing a 360-run win. The second Test in Melbourne was tighter. Australia’s 54-run lead came after Pat Cummins and Lyon shared nine wickets.
A collapse to 16/4 was rescued by Marsh’s 96 and Steve Smith’s grit, setting Pakistan 317. At 219/5, Pakistan had hope, but Cummins’ late burst triggered a collapse of five wickets for 18, securing a 79-run win. In Sydney, the third Test marked Warner’s farewell. Pakistan’s 313, boosted by Aamer Jamal’s 82, was nearly matched by Australia, despite Jamal’s 6/69. Josh Hazlewood’s 68/7 decimated Pakistan’s second innings, setting a 130-run chase. Warner’s 57 saw Australia home by eight wickets, capping his career with a hero’s ovation.
Australia vs West Indies — Series Tied 1-1
A big shock for Australian cricket came during their two-Test series against West Indies in January 2024, ending in a 1-1 draw. In the first Test at Adelaide, Australia dominated, winning by 10 wickets before lunch on day three. Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins dismantled the West Indies, despite Shamar Joseph’s gritty 36. Travis Head’s breezy 119 off 134 balls built a lead, and Hazlewood’s bowling nearly ended it in two days, forcing a small chase.
The second Test in Brisbane flipped the script. Chasing 216, Australia were cruising at 113/2 until Shamar Joseph, bowling with a broken toe, unleashed a historic spell. He dismissed Cameron Green and Head in successive balls, the latter bagging a king pair, and finished off Hazlewood to seal a seven-run upset, West Indies’ first win over Australia in 21 years.
Australia vs New Zealand — Won 2-0
With the series tied against West Indies, Australia traveled to New Zealand in February-March 2024, sweeping the two-Test series 2-0. In the first Test at Wellington, Cameron Green’s unbeaten 174, including a record 116-run last-wicket stand with Josh Hazlewood, powered Australia to 383. New Zealand slumped to 29/5, conceding a huge lead. Nathan Lyon’s 10-wicket haul on a turning pitch sealed a 172-run win.
The second Test in Christchurch was tighter. New Zealand, bowled out for 162 (Hazlewood 5/31), gained the upper hand as Australia struggled at 80/5 chasing 279. But Mitch Marsh’s 80 and Alex Carey’s match-winning 98 not out, with a 61-run stand alongside Pat Cummins, clinched a thrilling three-wicket victory. New Zealand’s collapse from 278/3 to 372 wasted a chance for a stiffer target.
Australia vs India — Won 3-1
Another tough series for the Australian team unfolded against India in November 2024-January 2025, but they clinched a 3-1 victory to reclaim the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and secure a WTC Final spot. In Perth, India stunned Australia with a 295-run win, as Jasprit Bumrah’s brilliance and Yashasvi Jaiswal’s 161 outshone Travis Head’s 89. Australia bounced back in Adelaide, winning by 10 wickets, with Mitchell Starc’s 6/48 and Head’s 140 off 141 dominating the pink-ball Test.
Rain disrupted Brisbane, ending in a draw, but Head’s 152 and Steve Smith’s century kept Australia ahead, despite Bumrah’s 6/76. Melbourne’s epic Test saw Australia triumph by 184 runs, fueled by Sam Konstas’ bold debut, Smith’s 140, and Scott Boland’s bowling, though Nitish Kumar Reddy’s maiden ton fought for India. Sydney, Australia, won by six wickets on a lively pitch, chasing 162 despite Bumrah’s injury. Boland’s 10 wickets and Beau Webster’s debut 57 shone, while Rishabh Pant’s 61 couldn’t save India. Australia’s resilience, led by Head and Cummins, ensured they headed to Lord’s with momentum.
Australia vs Sri Lanka — Won 2-0
With the WTC Final spot secured, Australia traveled to Sri Lanka in February 2025, delivering a commanding 2-0 Test series sweep. In the first Test at Galle, Australia dominated with a crushing innings-and-242-run victory. Travis Head’s aggressive start paved the way for Usman Khawaja’s career-best 232, complemented by centuries from Steve Smith and debutant Josh Inglis’ dazzling 94-ball ton.
Australia’s massive total overwhelmed Sri Lanka, who collapsed to 165, with Matt Kuhnemann’s 5/63 leading the charge. Forced to follow on, Sri Lanka fell again, as Kuhnemann and Nathan Lyon shared 16 wickets. The second Test, also in Galle, saw a tougher fight but ended in a nine-wicket win for Australia. Sri Lanka’s 257, bolstered by half-centuries from Dinesh Chandimal and Kusal Mendis, looked promising, especially when Australia slipped to 91/3. But Smith’s brilliance and Alex Carey’s masterful 156 built a hefty lead. Angelo Mathews’ resistance was cut short by Beau Webster’s stunning catch, and Lyon and Kuhnemann’s 14 wickets sealed the deal.
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