ICC World Test Championship points table (updated) as of November 22 after AUS vs ENG 2025-26 1st Test 

Australia continued their perfect flying start in the 2025-27 World Test Championship (WTC) cycle after a frenzied historic win against England in the 1st Test of the 2025-26 Ashes. The clash between the two arch-rivals ended inside two days at the Optus Stadium in Perth, as the hosts claim a 1-0 lead in the five-match affair.

After a frenetic opening day that saw 19 wickets fall, Day 2 was no different as England suffered a massive collapse in their second innings. The visitors lost nine wickets in one session to be bowled out for 164 runs, and handed Australia a target of 205 runs, courtesy of their slender lead after the first innings.

Featuring at the top of the order instead of Usman Khawaja, explosive batter Travis Head ran riot to script one of the greatest knocks in Ashes history. He took on the English bowlers from the get-go to record the fastest hundred in the fourth innings in Test cricket history, as well as he second fastest in Ashes history.

His fiery knock of 123 runs off 83 deliveries meant that the Men in Yellow chased down the score in just 28.2 overs, right before Stumps on Day 2.

Australia were already on top of the WTC standings with a PCT of 100 after their white-wash against West Indies, a few months back. With their fourth win in a row in the cycle, they cement their position at the top, maintaining a significant lead over the second-placed South Africa.

England, on the other hand, were placed sixth in the WTC standings after their 2-2 draw with India in the 2025 Anderson-Tendular Trophy. They also had a couple of points deducted for maintaining a slow over rate. With this defeat, their PCT drops to 36.11 from 43.33, but they still hold the sixth spot in the table.

The Gabba to host the second 2025-26 Ashes Test from December 4 onwards

The second Test between Australia and England will be hosted by The Gabba in Brisbane from December 4 onwards. The last time the visitors recorded a win at the iconic venue was in 1986.

The Men in Yellow have recorded comfortable and dominant wins over their rivals across the last three meetings in Brisbane. Pacers Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins could be back in contention after missing the series opener due to injury.

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Edited by Gokul Nair