On Saturday, November 22, the 50,000 spectators at Perth Stadium witnessed history as Australia wrapped up the first Ashes Test in just two days with a commanding eight-wicket win over England. The match turned into a low-scoring thriller, with England collapsing for 172 after opting to bat first. Australia, however, fared even worse on Day 1, as the Steve Smith-led side folded for 132, handing England a 40-run lead.
Despite the advantage, England squandered the opportunity. Their batting lineup faltered once again, setting Australia a modest target of 204 runs. This time, the hosts made no mistake. Travis Head led the charge with a brilliant century, guiding Australia to a comfortable victory and extending their unbeaten run in the ongoing World Test Championship (WTC) 2025–2027 cycle.
This article takes a closer look at the updated WTC standings following England’s disappointing defeat, a result that puts their campaign in serious jeopardy, while Australia surge ahead.
Updated WTC standings
With four wins in four matches, Australia remain at the top of the WTC 2025–2027 table with a perfect PCT of 100. England, meanwhile, continue to languish in sixth place with a PCT of 36.11.
England have now played six Tests in this cycle, winning only two and losing three. Only Bangladesh, New Zealand, and West Indies sit below them. Notably, New Zealand are yet to open their account, while West Indies remain without points despite playing five matches.
As things stand, Australia are dominating the new cycle with no losses, while England’s chances of qualifying for the final look bleak. They now need to win all four of their remaining fixtures to realistically push for a top-two finish.
Australia and England will meet again in the second Test at the Gabba in Brisbane on December 4.
