<p>The recent performances of Team India in Test Cricket have been shambolic and they suffered back-to-back series defeats in recent times. They first suffered a crushing 0-3 defeat to New Zealand in the three-match home Test Series. Then, they fell to Australia by a margin of 1-3 in the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy series in Australia. Due to losing six out of their last eight test matches, the Men in Blue failed to qualify for the final of the current World Test Championship (WTC) cycle for the first ever. </p>
<h2><strong>Will Rohit Sharma be a part of the team on the England Tour? </strong></h2>
<p>The performances of the Indian skipper Rohit Sharma with the bat were very poor in the Test Series versus the Australians, as he managed to score just 31 runs in three games. He eventually decided to drop himself from the Sydney Test-Match due to his poor performance with the bat. Then, the 37-year-old played the Ranji Trophy for Mumbai, where he scored just 31 runs in both innings versus Jammu &amp; Kashmir. </p>
<p>Now the Cricket Governing Body of India, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has started planning for the future in Test Cricket. According to the news report of PTI, it's looking really difficult for the Hitman Rohit Sharma to find a place in Test Team. The report states that the 37-year-old is unlikely to be selected in the squad for the tour of England, starting in June of this year. </p>
<p>The Men in Blue are scheduled to take part in five Test matches on the England tour. The report of PTI said, 'Jasprit Bumrah is likely to return to the IPL for the Mumbai Indians (MI) and then he will be seen leading the Indian team on the England tour as Rohit Sharma won't be seen playing Test Cricket again.'</p>
<p>The report further claimed that the premier seamer was not included in the Champions Trophy squad as he has not yet started bowling at his regular level. People aware of this particular matter believe that it was very difficult for the 31-year-old to become match fit in such a short period of time and therefore, the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee decided to go ahead with Harshit Rana instead. </p>
<h2><strong>Jasprit Bumrah set to become the new captain</strong></h2>
<p>Bumrah is all set to become the new captain of Team India in the longest format of the game. He has led the Men in Blue on three occasions so far in the format, in which he has led them to victories in one game and has suffered defeats in the other two. The 31-year-old led the team for the first time in 2022 in the rescheduled Birmingham Test-Match as regular skipper Rohit Sharma was not available since he was battling Covid-19. </p>
<p>The Indian team lost that game versus the Three Lions but Bumrah as a skipper showed a lot of potential. He helped them start off the 2024-25 BGT series on a winning note as they went on to secure an easy win in Perth. Jasprit also handled the leadership duties in the Final Test Match in Sydney where the Men in Blue suffered an embarrassing defeat. </p>
<h3><strong>What did Rohit Sharma say about his retirement?</strong></h3>
<p>Captain Rohit Sharma will be turning 38-years-old before the commencement of the England Tour. During the Sydney Test Match of the BGT versus the Aussies, he had a chat with Indian broadcasters Star Sports and he had made up his mind of not hanging up his boots in the longest format of the game just yet. " I am not going to hang up my boots in Test Cricket any time soon. I decided to drop myself from the Sydney Test because I wasn't able to score runs and perform well. I will grind hard and make a grand comeback. I am unable to score runs at present but there's no guarantee that I will not score runs after a period of five months," he said. </p>
<p><strong>India versus England, five-match Test Series Full schedule</strong></p>
<p>June 20-24, 1st Test, Headingley</p>
<p>July 2-6, 2nd Test, Birmingham</p>
<p>July 10-14, 3rd Test, Lord's</p>
<p>July 23-27, 4th Test, Manchester</p>
<p>July 31-August 4, 5th Test, The Oval</p>
<p>Do Read: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/watch-launga-launga-rohit-sharma-promises-to-bring-icc-champions-trophy-2025-home-before-dubai-departure-/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Watch: "Launga Launga" - Rohit Sharma promises to bring ICC Champions Trophy 2025 home before Dubai departure</a></p>

Captain Rohit Sharma of Team India (L) and Jasprit Bumrah along with chief selector Ajit Agarkar (L) | Image Credits: Getty Images

The BCCI are planning to make some harsh changes in the test team of India and captain Rohit Sharma is set to be dropped from the longest format of the game for the England tour after his shambolic performance as a batter & as a leader in the 2024-25 BGT Series versus Australia. Elite Pacer Bumrah will be taking over the Test Captaincy duties from him

Rohit Sharma's Test Career looks set to be over as he's set to be excluded from the squad for the England tour with seamer Jasprit Bumrah replacing him in as the new captain

Is Rohit Sharma's Test Career over? Hitman is set to be excluded from the England Tour, this player will lead the team

is-rohit-sharma-s-test-career-over-hitman-is-set-to-be-excluded-from-the-england-tour-this-player-will-lead-the-team

<p>In what promises to be an exciting and thrilling contest, Steve Smith-led Australia and Dhananjaya de Silva's Sri Lanka are set to lock horns versus each other in the second and the last match of the two-match Test-Series at the Galle International Stadium of Galle from the 6th of February onwards (Wednesday). </p>
<p>In the opening encounter of the series, the Mighty Aussies secured a comfortable victory by an inning and 242 runs and this win helped them to take an unassailable lead of 1-0 in the two-match series. In such a situation, the Dhananjaya de Silva-led Sri Lanka would be looking to make a strong comeback by rectifying their mistakes in the second match. </p>
<p>Ahead of this exciting contest, some thrilling player battles will be seen taking place between the star players of both teams which can go on to affect the outcome of the match. We will be taking a look at those player battles in this article</p>
<p>While the Kangaroos have already taken the lead in the series, the home side will have the chance to make a strong comeback by taking advantage of the home conditions on offer. It will be interesting to see which team finishes out on top in these player battles and which team succumbs to the pressure. </p>
<h2><strong>Dinesh Chandimal versus Matthew Kuhnemann</strong></h2>
<p>Australia's left-arm orthodox spinner Matthew Kuhnemann failed to create an impact with the ball in the first ball, ending the match with 0 scalps to his name but he can trouble Sri Lankan batters on the spinning track of Galle. </p>
<p>This will be especially very challenging for experienced wicketkeeper-batsman Dinesh Chandimal. He is a good player of spin, has a good record against them and also he knows the conditions of Galle quite well but the variations of Kuhnemann can trouble him in the second Test-Match.</p>
<h2><strong>Prabhat Jayasuriya versus Usman Khawaja</strong></h2>
<p>Australia's experienced opening batter Usman Khawaja is in great form with the bat and he also possesses' an excellent batting record on Subcontinental surfaces. While the Australian team management would be happy to see him performing, they might be a little worried in the 2nd match as experienced left-arm spinner Prabhat Jayasuriya can trouble him a lot. </p>
<p>The 33-year-old has excellent variations up his sleeve and has knack of performing brilliantly in spin-friendly conditions and home conditions. He also got the better of the Southpaw in the opening encounter, dismissing him when he was batting on the score of 232 runs and Jayasuriya would be looking to get the better of Khawaja again in the final match of the series. </p>
<h2><strong>Other notable player battles</strong></h2>
<p>Apart from the two above-mentioned player battles, the battle between elite Aussie off-spinner Nathan Lyon and promising Sri Lankan batter Kamindu Mendis will also be worth watching out for. </p>
<p>Angelo Mathews will have to rely on his batting technique to tackle the speed and swing of Mitchell Starc and at the same time, Asitha Fernando has the ability to trouble the Australian duo of Josh Inglis and Marnus Labuschagne with his pace and bounce.</p>
<p>Do Read: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/shock-to-team-india-before-champions-trophy-jasprit-bumrah-ruled-out-of-entire-england-odi-series/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Shock to Team India before Champions Trophy, Jasprit Bumrah ruled out of entire England ODI Series</a></p>

Mitchell Starc had Kamindu Mendis strangled down leg side, Sri Lanka vs Australia, 1st Test, Galle, 3rd day, January 31, 2025 | Image: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

Australia led by Steve Smith secured an easy victory in the opening match of the series by a margin of an innings and 242 runs and took an unassailable 1-0 lead in the series. In such a situation, the Sri Lankan team would like to make a strong comeback in the series by correcting its mistakes in the second match. In this match, some interesting player battles will be witnessed between the star players of both teams, which can surely affect the outcome of the match

Sri Lanka and Australia are set to lock horns versus each other in the 2nd and final Test match of the two match series and while the Kangaroos have already secured an unassailable 1-0 lead, the home side would not like to lower their morale as they would want to execute a perfect comeback in the series. Some exciting player battles are also going to take place and we will be taking a look at them

Sri Lanka vs Australia 2nd Test: 3 Player Battles to Watch Out

sri-lanka-vs-australia-2nd-test-3-player-battles-to-watch-out

<p><strong>PAK vs WI 1st Test: </strong>Pakistan are all set to host West Indies in a two-match Test series and the first of the two tests is going to start today at Multan Cricket Stadium. This series is also a part of the WTC cycle 2023-25. With both sides languishing near the bottom of the WTC standings, this contest may not hold significant weight in the larger tournament context but offers an opportunity for redemption and experimentation.</p>
<p>The upcoming two-match Test series between Pakistan and West Indies marks the final chapter for both teams in the current ICC World Test Championship (WTC) cycle. </p>
<h2><strong>The WTC Struggles of Both Teams</strong></h2>
<p><strong><img class="img-additional" src="https://admin.icccricketschedule.com/uploads/images/202501/image_430x256_677de4a3187ba.jpg" alt=""></strong></p>
<p>Pakistan, currently ranked eighth in the WTC standings, has endured a topsy-tuvry campaign, winning only four out of twelve matches. Their previous series against South Africa resulted in a demoralizing whitewash, with their batting order struggling to cope with quality opposition. The Shan Masood-led side has introduced fresh faces like Muhammad Hurraira and Sajid Khan, hoping these changes will revitalize their performance.</p>
<p>West Indies, placed at the bottom of the table with two wins in 11 matches, faced a similar fortune. Despite a memorable victory against Australia in Brisbane earlier in the cycle, inconsistency has dumped their campaign. A 1-1 series draw against Bangladesh in their most recent outing underlined their inability to maintain momentum. However, they see this series as a chance to end the cycle on a positive note.</p>
<h2><strong>A Historic Return to Pakistan </strong></h2>
<p><strong><img class="img-additional" src="https://admin.icccricketschedule.com/uploads/images/202501/image_430x256_6789cd8c74bcc.jpg" alt=""></strong></p>
<p>This series marks West Indies' first Test appearance in Pakistan in over 18 years. The Multan Cricket Stadium, known for its spin-friendly conditions, will be a crucial factor. Pakistan has actively sought to create pitches favoring spin, a strategy that proved successful against England. The preparation of such surfaces in Multan involves modern techniques like the use of heaters and greenhouses to achieve desired conditions.</p>
<h2><strong>Battle of the Spin Attacks</strong></h2>
<p>Spin is expected to dominate this series, with both teams equipped with bowlers suited to the conditions. Pakistan will rely on their trio of Sajid Khan, Noman Ali, and Abrar Ahmed. West Indies, on the other hand, bring Gudakesh Motie, whose impressive bowling average poses a challenge. Motie's skill set, combined with his height, makes him a formidable weapon on slow-turning tracks.</p>
<h2><strong>Pakistan’s Batting Adjustments</strong></h2>
<p>Pakistan's batting line-up has undergone significant changes, with Abdullah Shafique's dip in form and Saim Ayub's injury opening the door for debutant Muhammad Hurraira. Saud Shakeel, a standout performer in spin-friendly environments, is expected to play a pivotal role. Despite his preference for faster pitches, Shakeel’s consistency at Multan suggests he could anchor Pakistan's innings in a potentially low-scoring series.</p>
<h2><strong>West Indies’ Quest for Stability</strong></h2>
<p>For the visitors, batting remains a concern. Kraigg Brathwaite’s leadership will be tested as the team navigates Pakistan's challenging conditions. The exclusion of vice-captain Joshua Da Silva due to poor form signals West Indies' intent to revamp their approach. A collective effort from their batting unit, rather than reliance on individual brilliance, will be key to their success.</p>
<h2><strong>Head-to-head Records</strong></h2>
<p>Pakistan and West Indies have faced each other in 54 Test matches, with Pakistan holding a slight advantage. Pakistan has emerged victorious in 21 matches, while West Indies have claimed 18 wins and 15 matches have ended in a draw. </p>
<p>Notably, Pakistan has dominated this rivalry in the 21st century, winning 11 of the 17 Tests played during this period, with West Indies securing five wins. On home soil, Pakistan has been particularly strong, recording nine wins and only four losses, alongside eight draws. The two teams last met for a Test match in Pakistan in 2006, adding a historic element to their upcoming clash.</p>
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<p><strong>Total matches played -</strong> 54</p>
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<p><strong>Pakistan won -</strong> 21</p>
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<p><strong>West Indies won -</strong> 18</p>
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<p><strong>Draw - </strong>15</p>
<h2><strong>Recent Form of Pakistan and West Indies in Test</strong></h2>
<p>In the last five Tests, Pakistan have won just two and lost three. Two of those losses came against South Africa. West Indies, on the other hand, also lost three but won just one with one ending in a draw. <strong><br></strong></p>
<p><strong>READ:<a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/pak-vs-wi-1st-test-dream11-prediction-grand-league-team-probable-playing11s-and-more/"> PAK vs WI 1st Test Dream11 Prediction, Grand League Team, Probable Playing11s and More</a><br></strong></p>
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Pakistan and West Indies, both struggling in Test cricket, face off in a two-match series. Pakistan holds a slight historical edge, but recent performances show inconsistency for both teams.

Pakistan and West Indies aim for redemption in a Test series, showcasing historical rivalry and recent struggles in cricketing form.

PAK vs WI 1st Test Preview, Head-to-head Records and Recent Forms of Teams

pak-vs-wi-1st-test-preview-head-to-head-records-and-recent-forms-of-teams

<p><strong>West Indies Tour Of Pakistan 2025: </strong>The West Indies Cricket team is set to tour Pakistan after 18 years and this historic tour of West Indies in Pakistan is scheduled to feature a red ball series starting January 17, 2025.</p>
<p>The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has revealed the schedule for the West Indies cricket team's tour of Pakistan. The team left the Caribbean on January 2 and landed in Islamabad on January 6. They spent a few days training before gearing up for a warm-up match against Pakistan Shaheens from January 10-12 at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.</p>
<p>As the West Indies squad has landed, Pakistan are yet to announce the official squad for the test series. The Pakistan A–led by Imam-Ul-Haq is currently playing against West Indies in the Warmup match at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. </p>
<p>The upcoming Test series marks West Indies' first visit to Pakistan for red-ball cricket in 18 years. Their last Test tour in the country was back in November 2006, when they played a three-match series. More recently, in October 2016, the two teams clashed in an away series held in the UAE.</p>
<p>In that UAE series, Pakistan emerged victorious with a 2-1 win. The Men in Green claimed the first two matches, but West Indies finished strong, securing a win in the final Test. Since then, Pakistan has toured the Caribbean twice, but this series brings the West Indies back to Pakistani soil after nearly two decades.</p>
<p>Let's Take a look at the PAK vs WI 2025 Schedule, Full Squads and More Updates on the bilateral Series:</p>
<h2><strong>PAK vs WI 2025 Schedule</strong></h2>
<p>Pakistan will host the West Indies for an exciting two-match Test series, part of the ongoing World Test Championship cycle. The opening Test is scheduled from January 17 to 21, while the second match will follow shortly after, running from January 25 to 29. Both games will be played at the Multan Cricket Stadium.</p>
<p>Due to renovation work at the stadiums in Rawalpindi, Lahore, and Karachi in preparation for February’s Champions Trophy, Multan was chosen as the sole venue for this series. Cricket fans can look forward to an intense battle between the home side and the visitors in this much-anticipated Test showdown.</p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;"><colgroup><col style="width: 24.9433%;"><col style="width: 24.9433%;"><col style="width: 24.9433%;"><col style="width: 24.9433%;"></colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><strong>Date</strong></td>
<td><strong>Match</strong></td>
<td><strong>Venue</strong></td>
<td><strong>Time</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>17 Jan- 21 Jan</td>
<td>PAK vs WI, 1st Test</td>
<td>Multan Cricket Stadium</td>
<td>10:00 AM</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>25 Jan- 29 Jan</td>
<td>PAK vs WI, 2nd Test</td>
<td>Multan Cricket Stadium</td>
<td>10:00 AM</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h2><strong>PAK vs WI 2025 Squad</strong></h2>
<p><strong>West Indies Squad: </strong>Kraigg Brathwaite (captain), Alick Athanaze, Keacy Carty, Joshua Da Silva, Justin Greaves, Kavem Hodge, Tevin Imlach, Amir Jangoo, Mikyle Louis, Gudakesh Motie, Anderson Phillip, Kemar Roach, Jayden Seales, Kevin Sinclair and Jomel Warrican.</p>
<p><strong>Pakistan Squad: </strong>Yet To be announced!</p>
<p><strong>**Squad will be updated here as soon as they are announced!</strong></p>
<p><strong>READ: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/pcb-subtly-destroys-bcci-for-tarnishing-their-image-dismisses-rumours-of-champions-trophy-moving-out-of-pakistan-/">PCB subtly destroys BCCI for tarnishing their image, dismisses rumours of Champions Trophy moving out of Pakistan</a><br></strong></p>

West Indies Tour of Pakistan 2025 (Getty Images)

West Indies returns to Pakistan for a red-ball Test series after 18 years, starting January 17, 2025, featuring warm-up matches in Rawalpindi.

The West Indies cricket team tours Pakistan after nearly two decades, marking a historic red-ball series following extensive preparations in Islamabad.

PAK vs WI 2025 Schedule, Full Squads, Venues and More on West Indies Tour OF Pakistan 2025

pak-vs-wi-2025-schedule-full-squads-venues-and-more-on-west-indies-tour-of-pakistan-2025

<p><strong>ICC Men's Test Team Rankings: </strong>After a series of what we would say was a disaster for Team India in Australia and for Team Pakistan in South Africa, the International Cricket Council has come up with the latest updated ICC Men's Test Team Rankings where India slipped past South Africa. </p>
<p>Two big teams from Asia toured two different countries in December.  The positive of the Pakistan Tour of South Africa was that they are the only nation to whitewash South Africa in the ODI format in South Africa. The end result of the test series is disappointing for both nations as they failed to deliver the best. Let's take a look at both tours in brief.</p>
<h2><strong>Border Gavaskar Trophy 2024/25</strong></h2>
<p>India’s struggles in Test cricket continued as they suffered a crushing 3-1 defeat against Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. This marked the second consecutive Test series loss for the team, adding to the earlier 3-0 drubbing against New Zealand at home. Despite starting the series with high hopes, Rohit Sharma’s leadership failed to inspire consistency, allowing Australia to dominate and reclaim the trophy after a decade.</p>
<p>The series began on a promising note for India with a commanding 295-run victory in Perth, led by stand-in captain Jasprit Bumrah. However, that early success turned out to be the only bright spot in an otherwise disappointing campaign.</p>
<p><img class="img-additional" src="https://admin.icccricketschedule.com/uploads/images/202412/image_430x256_67738a0bddf09.jpg" alt=""></p>
<p>Australia roared back with a 10-wicket triumph in Adelaide, while the rain-affected draw in Brisbane did little to shift the momentum. The Boxing Day Test in Melbourne saw Australia crush India by 184 runs, leaving the visitors on the back foot heading into the series finale.</p>
<p>India entered the decisive fifth Test in Sydney needing a win to salvage the series and avoid their first defeat to Australia since 2014-15. Unfortunately, their performance faltered once again, and the hosts sealed a comfortable six-wicket victory. With this win, Australia not only secured the series 3-1 but also ended India’s recent dominance in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, delivering a strong statement in world cricket.</p>
<h2><strong>Pakistan Tour of South Africa 2024/25</strong></h2>
<p>South Africa clinched a 2-0 series win against Pakistan, securing their place in the World Test Championship final. The first Test at SuperSport Park was a nail-biting affair, with South Africa chasing 148 and narrowly winning by two wickets after a dramatic collapse, thanks to their lower-order resilience. Pakistan’s bowlers fought hard but couldn’t break South Africa’s eight-match losing streak in the country.</p>
<p>The second Test in Cape Town saw South Africa dominate with a 10-wicket victory. The proteas, batting first put up 600+ runs on the board, already winning the pressure game. Despite following on, Pakistan put up a spirited fight with a strong second-innings total of 478. However, South Africa's bowlers limited the target to just 58, which the hosts chased with ease, sealing the series in just four days.</p>
<p><img class="img-additional" src="https://admin.icccricketschedule.com/uploads/images/202501/image_430x256_677de4a3187ba.jpg" alt=""></p>
<p>This series highlighted South Africa’s consistency and ability to deliver under pressure. Their strong bowling attack and solid team performance throughout ensured they remained unbeaten in the 2024/25 season. With this victory, South Africa carries significant momentum heading into the WTC final at Lord’s.</p>
<p>After these two series, here is the ICC Men's Test Team Rankings updated recently:</p>
<h2><strong>ICC Men's Test Team Rankings</strong></h2>
<p>India were leading the ICC Test Team Rankings a couple of months back in the time. The home series loss against New Zealand put them in a 121 rating and India slipped to the second spot. The Australia tour was also disappointing for the Indian team as they lost 3 matches which further damaged their rating and India are now ranked third with a 109 rating.</p>
<table id="table_1" class="table table-bordered table-hover" border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 62.561%; background-color: #F2EEFA; border-color: #000000; border-style: double;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=98.5" style="width: 10.6329%; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><strong>Pos</strong></td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.87" style="width: 37.7215%; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><strong>Team</strong></td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.79" style="width: 21.7722%; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><strong>Matches</strong></td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.07" style="width: 12.6582%; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><strong>Pts</strong></td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.97" style="width: 17.2152%; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><strong>Rating</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=71.89" style="width: 10.6329%; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">01</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.84" style="width: 37.7215%; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">AUSTRALIA</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.98" style="width: 21.7722%; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">36</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.98" style="width: 12.6582%; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">4531</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.97" style="width: 17.2152%; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">126</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=89.39" style="width: 10.6329%; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">02</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.92" style="width: 37.7215%; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">SOUTH AFRICA</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.93" style="width: 21.7722%; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">30</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.75" style="width: 12.6582%; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">3355</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.9" style="width: 17.2152%; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">112</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=91.51" style="width: 10.6329%; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">03</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.79" style="width: 37.7215%; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">INDIA</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.92" style="width: 21.7722%; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">39</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.91" style="width: 12.6582%; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">4248</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.96" style="width: 17.2152%; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">109</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=93.03" style="width: 10.6329%; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">04</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.64" style="width: 37.7215%; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">ENGLAND</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.88" style="width: 21.7722%; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">46</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.92" style="width: 12.6582%; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">4815</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.93" style="width: 17.2152%; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">105</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=83.5" style="width: 10.6329%; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">05</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.88" style="width: 37.7215%; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">NEW ZEALAND</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.92" style="width: 21.7722%; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">33</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.95" style="width: 12.6582%; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">3216</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.95" style="width: 17.2152%; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">97</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=79.98" style="width: 10.6329%; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">06</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.59" style="width: 37.7215%; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">SRI LANKA</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.9" style="width: 21.7722%; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">28</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.96" style="width: 12.6582%; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">2436</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.79" style="width: 17.2152%; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">87</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=87.86" style="width: 10.6329%; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">07</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=80.77" style="width: 37.7215%; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">PAKISTAN</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.95" style="width: 21.7722%; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">27</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.96" style="width: 12.6582%; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">2237</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.64" style="width: 17.2152%; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">83</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=81.49" style="width: 10.6329%; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">08</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.77" style="width: 37.7215%; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">WEST INDIES</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.93" style="width: 21.7722%; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">29</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.71" style="width: 12.6582%; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">2184</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.86" style="width: 17.2152%; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">75</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=77.44" style="width: 10.6329%; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">09</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.72" style="width: 37.7215%; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">BANGLADESH</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.92" style="width: 21.7722%; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">29</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.47" style="width: 12.6582%; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">1884</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.9" style="width: 17.2152%; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">65</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=89.56" style="width: 10.6329%; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">10</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=64.23" style="width: 37.7215%; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">IRELAND</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=97.56" style="width: 21.7722%; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">5</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.91" style="width: 12.6582%; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">131</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.91" style="width: 17.2152%; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">26</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=84.32" style="width: 10.6329%; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">11</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=56.91" style="width: 37.7215%; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">AFGHANISTAN</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.87" style="width: 21.7722%; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">6</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.89" style="width: 12.6582%; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">112</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.91" style="width: 17.2152%; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">19</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=72.44" style="width: 10.6329%; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">12</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.09" style="width: 37.7215%; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">ZIMBABWE</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.92" style="width: 21.7722%; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">6</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=98.31" style="width: 12.6582%; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">0</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=97.18" style="width: 17.2152%; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">0</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p> </p>

India dropped to third in the ICC Test Rankings after series losses against New Zealand and Australia. South Africa’s dominant 2-0 win over Pakistan secured their spot in the World Test Championship final.

India’s Test struggles continue as South Africa overtakes them in rankings following dominant performances against Pakistan and Australia.

ICC Men's Test Team Rankings Latest Updated After BGT 2024/25 and SA vs PAK Test Series

icc-men-s-test-team-rankings-latest-updated-after-bgt-2024-25-and-sa-vs-pak-test-series

<p><span>Former England player Michael Vaughan picked his combined playing XI from the recently concluded Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. What caught the attention of many was the cricketer-turned-commentator didn't name Nitish Kumar Reddy, who set the stage on fire in the series.</span><span><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p>
<p><span><span class="Apple-converted-space">Nitish Kumar Reddy was the shinning light for India in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. He made his debut in the first game at Perth and showed great promise and went on to slam ton in 4th Test in Melbourne. He ended the series with 298 runs with the bat and also went on to pick 5 wickets.</span></span></p>
<p><span>Michael Vaughan went on to pick five Indian players in his combined XI. Yashasvi Jaiswal will be opening the innings for the team along with the young Australian batter Sam Konstas. Both the batters were exceptional with the bat in the series and played a vital role for their teams.</span><span><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span></span></p>
<p><span>India batter KL Rahul, who opened the innings for India, will be batting at No.3 in Michael Vaughan's innings. Along with him, Steve Smith has been named at No.4 as the Australia batter returned to form and slammed two centuries in the series.</span><span><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p>
<p><span>Travis Head, who was the leading run-getter in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25, will be batting at No.5. The batter slammed over 500 runs in the series and was one of the main reasons why Australia won the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 by the margin of 3-1.</span><span><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span></span></p>
<p><span>India duo of Rishabh Pant, who will be keeping the innings, and Ravindra Jadeja will be two players who will form the lower order in the series. The duo did a decent job for India with the bat and were the main reasons why the team fought hard in the series.</span><span><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p>
<p><span>The pacer battery picked by Michael Vaughan in his combined Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 included the Australia pace trio of Pat Cummins, Scott Boland and Mitchell Starc. Also, Jasprit Bumrah features in the team picked by the former England cricketer.</span><span><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p>
<h2><span>Michael Vaughan picks his combined XI from the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></h2>
<p><span>Here's the Michael Vaughan picks his combined XI from the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p>
<p><span>Sam Konstas, Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Rishabh Pant (WK), Ravindra Jadeja, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Jasprit Bumrah, Scott Boland</span></p>
<p><span>Also Read: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/-youngster-will-maintain-a-batting-average-of-25-30-virat-kohli-asked-to-leave-team-india-/#google_vignette">"Youngster will maintain a batting average of 25-30"- Virat Kohli asked to leave Team India</a></span></p>

Former England player Michael Vaughan picked his combined playing XI from the recently concluded Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25.

No place for Nitish Reddy! Michael Vaughan names his combined BGT XI

no-place-for-nitish-reddy-michael-vaughan-names-his-combined-bgt-xi-

<p>The Australian Men's Cricket Team defeated Team India in the five-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy Series by a margin of 3-1 and this series victory helped them to qualify for their 2nd successive World Test Championship (WTC) final. While thier final qualification is already secured, the Kangaroos are scheduled to take part in one more Test-Series in the ongoing WTC cycle. </p>
<p>They will be travelling to Sri Lank to take part in a two-match Test-Series and their Test Skipper Pat Cummins will not be a part of this tour as he will be away on paternal duty. Moreover, the Kangaroos will also be travelling without ace seamer Josh Hazlewood who injured himself in the India Test-Series. </p>
<p>According to a news report of the Sydney Herald, since the Aussies have already confirmed their WTC final spot, they don't want to take any kind of risks with Hazlewood.The 33-year-old who hurt his calf in the Gabba Test-Match versus the Men in Blue got ruled out of the remainder of the BGT series and he had previously said that he was aiming to make a comeback to Australia's first Test-Series versus the Sri Lankans since 2022.</p>
<h2><strong>The trio of Starc, Boland and Abbott will go on the tour of Sri Lanka</strong></h2>
<p>According to some sources of the Sydney Morning Herald, since Josh won't get the opportunity to travel to Sri Lanka as the selectors don't want to risk him, the duo of Sean Abbot and the in-form Scott Boland will be travelling as the seamers alongside Mitchell Starc. </p>
<p>Boland was in red hot form in the BGT series versus the Indians, dismissing 21 batters in just six innings with a mind blowing average of 13.19. He also picked up an important fifer in the series and his performance with the ball were crucial in his team's success in the five-match Series. </p>
<p>Abbot on the other hand was called up to the squad but he didn't get a chance to feature in any of the matches. With Cummins and Hazlewood missing the Sri Lanka series, there are high chances of Abbott playing versus the Island nation. </p>
<h2><strong>What's the news about Australian skipper Pat Cummins</strong></h2>
<p>The selectors will meet on Wednesday of this week to finalise their squad. 16 players can be selected for the tour and The team is expected to be announced on Thursday, 9th of January</p>
<p>Captain Pat Cummins has indicated that he will not be available for part or all of the tour as he awaits the birth of his 2nd child. It will also have to be seen how he recovers from fatigue after playing five consecutive Test matches against India. Cummins and Starc were selected as Australia's only two frontline fast bowlers for the Sri Lanka tour three years ago, which was tied 1-1.</p>
<p>Do Read: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/icc-champions-trophy-2025-rohit-sharma-s-career-under-danger-bcci-wants-yashasvi-jaiswal-in-the-squad-/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Rohit Sharma's career under danger! BCCI wants Yashasvi Jaiswal in the squad</a></p>

The selection woes of Australia have increased following the injury of Hazlewood and it's reported that he won't be travelling to Sri Lanka for taking part in the two-match Test-Series

SL vs AUS: Another Headache for Australia, this fast bowler will miss the Sri Lanka tour

sl-vs-aus-another-headache-for-australia-this-fast-bowler-will-miss-the-sri-lanka-tour

<p>The 5th &amp; Final Test-Match in Sydney between Fierce-Rivals Australia and India ended today and the home team secured an easy six-wicket win and this win allowed them to secure the series by 3-1.This win of the Aussies has also made some significant changes in the overall standings of the 2023-25 World Test Championship (WTC) cycle. </p>
<p>Talking about the contest, the Jasprit Bumrah-led team were at 124-4 in their 2nd inning and they were looking set to set a big target for the Pat Cummins-led team. However, the Australian bowlers were in deadly mood as their perfect bowling display led to Team India suffering a batting collapse and they lost wickets in quick succession and eventually got bundled out for a mere score of 157 runs. </p>
<p>Wicket-keeper batsman Rishabh Pant fought the lone warrior's battle as he played an impressive inning of 61 runs in just 33 deliveries but he didn't get any kind of support from his fellow batters at the other end and the Kangaroos took full advantage of this and eventually the game turned in the favour of the Defending Champions. </p>
<p>For the Australian team, Scott Boland took 6 wickets while giving away 45 runs while skipper Pat Cummins also played a good hand with figures of 3-44 next to his name. </p>
<p>The Aussies were given a target of 162 runs to win the Sydney Test-Match but they lost wickets unnecessarily as Sam Konstas (22 runs in 17 deliveries), Marnus Labuschagne (6 runs in 20 deliveries), and Steve Smith (4 runs in 9 balls) went back to the pavilion cheaply, leaving the Australian team suddenly in a dire position of 58/3.</p>
<p>Next, opening batter Usman Khawaja played a good knock of 41 runs in 45 deliveries which allowed his team to initiate a comeback in the contest. If Bumrah wouldn't have got injured, then Khawaja wouldn't even get the chance to go past the 10 runs mark. </p>
<p>Without the availability of Bumrah, the Aussie batters started to play their shots freely and theu began creating a lot of pressure on the Indian bowling unit. While Prasidh Krishna did his best to help his team stay alive in the contest, he began to falter and this worked in the favour of the Australians. </p>
<p>As a result, the duo of Beau Webster &amp; Travis Head got involved in a strong partnership for thethe fifth wicket and added 58 runs in just 53 balls and this turned out to be winning factor. They helped their team reach a score of 162-4 and the Kangaroos won the encounter by a margin of six wickets.</p>
<h2><strong>WTC Final Chance:</strong></h2>
<p>Pat Cummins-led Aussies have successfully qualified for the 2023-25 World Test Championship (WTC) Final after securing the BGT series 3-1. Temba Bavuma-led South Africa have already secured their tickets for the Final after defeating Pakistan in the first Test-Match. </p>
<p>Keeping the statistics in mind, Team India have failed to qualify for the WTC Final for the first time since 2021. They are ranked third in the overall Standings with a PCT of 50. South Africa are the table toppers with a PCT of 66.67 while the Kangaroos are ranked 2nd with 63.73 PCT next to their name. They are followed by the likes of New Zealand (48.21) and Sri Lanka (45.45) respectively.</p>
<p>Do Read: <strong><a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/india-vs-pakistan-will-the-two-rivals-play-a-test-match-versus-each-other-this-english-legend-wants-them-to-play-in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">India vs Pakistan: Will the two rivals play a test match versus each other? This English legend wants them to play in</a></strong></p>

Indian Captain Rohit Sharma couldn't really have a say in the way things panned out in the Sydney Test-Match| Image: Getty Images

Can Team India still qualify for the WTC Final after suffering an embarrassing defeat in the Sydney Test-Match Or have they been eliminated completely?

Team India lost the Sydney Test Match, do they have any chances of qualifying for the WTC Final? Explained!

team-india-lost-the-sydney-test-match-do-they-have-any-chances-of-qualifying-for-the-wtc-final-explained-

<p>The Test series between India and Australia result has significantly impacted the ICC Men’s Test Team Rankings and the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) Standings. The South Africa National Cricket team secured a spot in the WTC final after their victory in the first Test match against Pakistan, while Australia holds the second spot with 118 points.</p>
<p></p>
<h3>ICC Men's Test Team Rankings Table</h3>
<div class="flex max-w-full flex-col flex-grow">
<div data-message-author-role="assistant" data-message-id="0195a902-e249-45bd-9da6-f29067815fcb" dir="auto" class="min-h-8 text-message flex w-full flex-col items-end gap-2 whitespace-normal break-words text-start [.text-message+&amp;]:mt-5" data-message-model-slug="gpt-4o">
<div class="flex w-full flex-col gap-1 empty:hidden first:pt-[3px]">
<div class="markdown prose w-full break-words dark:prose-invert dark">
<p>Australia maintains its top spot in the ICC Test Rankings with a rating of 124, while India remains in the second position with a rating of 111. However, in the WTC points table, India slips down to 3rd place.</p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<table border="1" cellpadding="10" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 42.8249%; height: 280px; border-width: 1px; border-spacing: 0px;"><caption>ICC Team Rinking [TEST]</caption>
<thead>
<tr style="height: 20px;">
<th style="width: 14.3432%; height: 20px; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">Position</th>
<th style="width: 21.4286%; height: 20px; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">Team</th>
<th style="width: 14.5529%; height: 20px; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">Matches</th>
<th style="width: 11.1134%; height: 20px; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">Points</th>
<th style="width: 11.3129%; height: 20px; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">Rating</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 20px;">
<td style="width: 14.3432%; height: 20px; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">1</td>
<td style="width: 21.4286%; height: 20px; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">Australia</td>
<td style="width: 14.5529%; height: 20px; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">30</td>
<td style="width: 11.1134%; height: 20px; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">3715</td>
<td style="width: 11.3129%; height: 20px; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">124</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 20px;">
<td style="width: 14.3432%; height: 20px; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">2</td>
<td style="width: 21.4286%; height: 20px; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">India</td>
<td style="width: 14.5529%; height: 20px; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">33</td>
<td style="width: 11.1134%; height: 20px; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">3654</td>
<td style="width: 11.3129%; height: 20px; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">111</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 20px;">
<td style="width: 14.3432%; height: 20px; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">3</td>
<td style="width: 21.4286%; height: 20px; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">South Africa</td>
<td style="width: 14.5529%; height: 20px; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">27</td>
<td style="width: 11.1134%; height: 20px; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">2947</td>
<td style="width: 11.3129%; height: 20px; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">109</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 20px;">
<td style="width: 14.3432%; height: 20px; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">4</td>
<td style="width: 21.4286%; height: 20px; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">England</td>
<td style="width: 14.5529%; height: 20px; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">50</td>
<td style="width: 11.1134%; height: 20px; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">5303</td>
<td style="width: 11.3129%; height: 20px; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">106</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 40px;">
<td style="width: 14.3432%; height: 40px; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">5</td>
<td style="width: 21.4286%; height: 40px; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">New Zealand</td>
<td style="width: 14.5529%; height: 40px; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">37</td>
<td style="width: 11.1134%; height: 40px; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">3536</td>
<td style="width: 11.3129%; height: 40px; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">96</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 20px;">
<td style="width: 14.3432%; height: 20px; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">6</td>
<td style="width: 21.4286%; height: 20px; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">Sri Lanka</td>
<td style="width: 14.5529%; height: 20px; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">28</td>
<td style="width: 11.1134%; height: 20px; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">2436</td>
<td style="width: 11.3129%; height: 20px; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">87</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 20px;">
<td style="width: 14.3432%; height: 20px; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">7</td>
<td style="width: 21.4286%; height: 20px; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">Pakistan</td>
<td style="width: 14.5529%; height: 20px; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">24</td>
<td style="width: 11.1134%; height: 20px; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">2060</td>
<td style="width: 11.3129%; height: 20px; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">86</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 20px;">
<td style="width: 14.3432%; height: 20px; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">8</td>
<td style="width: 21.4286%; height: 20px; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">West Indies</td>
<td style="width: 14.5529%; height: 20px; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">29</td>
<td style="width: 11.1134%; height: 20px; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">2184</td>
<td style="width: 11.3129%; height: 20px; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">75</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 20px;">
<td style="width: 14.3432%; height: 20px; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">9</td>
<td style="width: 21.4286%; height: 20px; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">Bangladesh</td>
<td style="width: 14.5529%; height: 20px; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">29</td>
<td style="width: 11.1134%; height: 20px; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">1884</td>
<td style="width: 11.3129%; height: 20px; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">65</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 20px;">
<td style="width: 14.3432%; height: 20px; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">10</td>
<td style="width: 21.4286%; height: 20px; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">Ireland</td>
<td style="width: 14.5529%; height: 20px; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">5</td>
<td style="width: 11.1134%; height: 20px; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">131</td>
<td style="width: 11.3129%; height: 20px; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">26</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 20px;">
<td style="width: 14.3432%; height: 20px; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">11</td>
<td style="width: 21.4286%; height: 20px; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">Zimbabwe</td>
<td style="width: 14.5529%; height: 20px; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">3</td>
<td style="width: 11.1134%; height: 20px; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">11</td>
<td style="width: 11.3129%; height: 20px; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">4</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 20px;">
<td style="width: 14.3432%; height: 20px; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">12</td>
<td style="width: 21.4286%; height: 20px; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">Afghanistan</td>
<td style="width: 14.5529%; height: 20px; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">3</td>
<td style="width: 11.1134%; height: 20px; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">0</td>
<td style="width: 11.3129%; height: 20px; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">0</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p></p>
<h3>ICC World Test Championship (WTC) Standings Table</h3>
<table border="1" cellpadding="10" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 94.1035%; border-width: 1px; border-spacing: 0px;"><caption>WTC Points table</caption>
<thead>
<tr>
<th style="width: 9.70235%; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">Position</th>
<th style="width: 12.3054%; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">Team</th>
<th style="width: 13.7253%; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">Matches Played</th>
<th style="width: 6.38935%; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">Won</th>
<th style="width: 6.38935%; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">Lost</th>
<th style="width: 6.98096%; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">Draw</th>
<th style="width: 15.0268%; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">Points Deduction</th>
<th style="width: 8.04585%; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">Points</th>
<th style="width: 21.4162%; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">Points Percentage (PCT)</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 9.70235%; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">1</td>
<td style="width: 12.3054%; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">South Africa</td>
<td style="width: 13.7253%; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">11</td>
<td style="width: 6.38935%; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">7</td>
<td style="width: 6.38935%; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">3</td>
<td style="width: 6.98096%; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">1</td>
<td style="width: 15.0268%; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">0</td>
<td style="width: 8.04585%; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">88</td>
<td style="width: 21.4162%; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">66.67</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 9.70235%; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">2</td>
<td style="width: 12.3054%; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">Australia</td>
<td style="width: 13.7253%; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">16</td>
<td style="width: 6.38935%; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">10</td>
<td style="width: 6.38935%; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">4</td>
<td style="width: 6.98096%; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">2</td>
<td style="width: 15.0268%; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">10</td>
<td style="width: 8.04585%; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">118</td>
<td style="width: 21.4162%; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">61.46</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 9.70235%; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">3</td>
<td style="width: 12.3054%; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">India</td>
<td style="width: 13.7253%; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">18</td>
<td style="width: 6.38935%; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">9</td>
<td style="width: 6.38935%; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">7</td>
<td style="width: 6.98096%; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">2</td>
<td style="width: 15.0268%; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">2</td>
<td style="width: 8.04585%; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">114</td>
<td style="width: 21.4162%; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">52.78</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 9.70235%; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">4</td>
<td style="width: 12.3054%; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">New Zealand</td>
<td style="width: 13.7253%; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">14</td>
<td style="width: 6.38935%; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">7</td>
<td style="width: 6.38935%; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">7</td>
<td style="width: 6.98096%; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">0</td>
<td style="width: 15.0268%; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">3</td>
<td style="width: 8.04585%; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">81</td>
<td style="width: 21.4162%; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">48.21</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 9.70235%; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">5</td>
<td style="width: 12.3054%; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">Sri Lanka</td>
<td style="width: 13.7253%; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">11</td>
<td style="width: 6.38935%; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">5</td>
<td style="width: 6.38935%; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">6</td>
<td style="width: 6.98096%; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">0</td>
<td style="width: 15.0268%; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">0</td>
<td style="width: 8.04585%; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">60</td>
<td style="width: 21.4162%; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">45.45</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 9.70235%; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">6</td>
<td style="width: 12.3054%; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">England</td>
<td style="width: 13.7253%; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">22</td>
<td style="width: 6.38935%; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">11</td>
<td style="width: 6.38935%; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">10</td>
<td style="width: 6.98096%; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">1</td>
<td style="width: 15.0268%; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">22</td>
<td style="width: 8.04585%; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">114</td>
<td style="width: 21.4162%; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">43.18</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 9.70235%; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">7</td>
<td style="width: 12.3054%; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">Bangladesh</td>
<td style="width: 13.7253%; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">12</td>
<td style="width: 6.38935%; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">4</td>
<td style="width: 6.38935%; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">8</td>
<td style="width: 6.98096%; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">0</td>
<td style="width: 15.0268%; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">3</td>
<td style="width: 8.04585%; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">45</td>
<td style="width: 21.4162%; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">31.25</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 9.70235%; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">8</td>
<td style="width: 12.3054%; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">Pakistan</td>
<td style="width: 13.7253%; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">11</td>
<td style="width: 6.38935%; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">4</td>
<td style="width: 6.38935%; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">7</td>
<td style="width: 6.98096%; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">0</td>
<td style="width: 15.0268%; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">8</td>
<td style="width: 8.04585%; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">40</td>
<td style="width: 21.4162%; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">30.30</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 9.70235%; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">9</td>
<td style="width: 12.3054%; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">West Indies</td>
<td style="width: 13.7253%; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">11</td>
<td style="width: 6.38935%; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">2</td>
<td style="width: 6.38935%; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">7</td>
<td style="width: 6.98096%; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">2</td>
<td style="width: 15.0268%; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">0</td>
<td style="width: 8.04585%; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">32</td>
<td style="width: 21.4162%; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">24.24</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Points System in WTC</strong></p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Win:</strong> 12 points</li>
<li><strong>Tie:</strong> 6 points</li>
<li><strong>Draw:</strong> 4 points</li>
<li><strong>Penalty:</strong> Points deducted for slow over rates</li>
</ul>
<p>Check ICC Latest ranking on the ICC officla website <a href="https://www.icc-cricket.com/tournaments/world-test-championship/standings" title="WTC Standing" target="_blank" rel="noopener">www.icc-cricket.com</a></p>
<p></p>

Latest ICC Men's Test Team Rankings and ICC World Test Championship (WTC) standings. Find out which teams are leading the charts, their matches played, points, and ratings as they compete for a place in the WTC Final at Lord’s in 2025.

ICC Team Ranking After India vs Australia Test Series 4th Match - ICC WTC Standings

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<p>Rohit Sharma, the current captain of the Indian Cricket Team is set to take the big decision of retiring from Test Cricket following the conclusion of the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy series versus the Australians. According to a media report, Rohit will be taking a big decision regarding his career after the conclusion of the ongoing series. </p>
<p>Let us tell you that the Men in Blue have failed to win the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series, a series which the Indians have won on the previous four occasions. On the other hand, the personal performance of the 37-year-old with the bat have been poor too, managing to score just 31 runs in five innings versus the Aussies in the current edition of the BGT. </p>
<p>According to the news report of Times of India, the top officials of thr BCCI and the National Team selectors have already talked to Rohit and it looks like the 'Hitman' will not be changing his decision of retiring. While the date of his retirement has not been revealed yet, some news reports suggest that the 37-year-old will be taking the tough decision after the conclusion of the Sydney Test-Match. </p>
<p>If the two time WTC runners-up manage to qualify for the 2023-25 WTC Final, then Rohit can carry on as the captain of the team for some more time and he will most likely have a discussion with the selectors regarding staying on as the skipper. </p>
<p>Following the team's defeat in the Melbourne Boxing-Day Test, the Indian captain was deeply hurt by the defeat. On one hand, elite seamer Jasprit Bumrah has single handedly dismissed Australian batters 30 times in the ongoing series while Rohit on the other hand, has managed to amass just 31 runs. It's possible that the retirement of the 'Hitman' is not that far but he won't be moving away from Red-ball Cricket without fighting back in the Sydney Test-Match.</p>
<h2><strong>What did Indian Captain Rohit Sharma say following the team's embarrassing defeat in Melbourne? </strong></h2>
<p>The Indian Team fell to an embarrassing 184 runs defeat in the Melbourne Boxing-Day Test-Match versus the Australians and this defeat meant that the home team have taken a 2-1 lead in the five-match series. After the defeat, Skipper Rohit Sharma that there are many things that are not happening according to his wishes. He also said that this defeat is mentally disturbing. </p>
<p><em><strong>"It's evident that we have had a few unfavorable-outcomes, and as captain, I find this disheartening. Many of the things I'm attempting to do as a batter are not working out and it's upsetting to the mind," the Indian captain said.</strong></em></p>
<p>Do Read: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/mitchell-starc-ruled-out-of-sydney-test-australian-coach-makes-a-big-revelation-ahead-of-5th-test/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mitchell Starc ruled out of Sydney Test? Australian coach makes a big revelation ahead of 5th Test</a></p>

A dejected Rohit Sharma walks back to the dugout after getting dismissed for yet another low score in the BGT 2024 series | Image: Associated Press

Reportedly, Indian skipper Rohit Sharma has decided to retire from Test Cricket and the announcement is likely to be made by the BCCI after the end of the Sydney Test-Match versus the Australians.

Team India: Captain Rohit Sharma decides to retire from Tests, BCCI likely to make an announcement soon

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The International Cricket Council's (ICC) World Test Championship (WTC) is a prestigious tournament that brings together the world's top cricket teams in a two-year-long competition. The WTC aims to promote and elevate the importance of Test cricket, the oldest and most traditional form of the game. Here you will get latest update on ICC WTC

World Test Championship (WTC)

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Afghanistan vs England: Rashid Khan on the verge of creating a massive world record, just needs to do this..

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On 25 February 2025, a very unforgettable match was played outside between Barcelona and Atletico Madrid. This match was the Copa del Rey semi-final first leg match, which was being played in Barcelona itself.

Barcelona vs Atletico Madrid Highlights: The Craziest Match Ever! Match Draws to 4-4

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England and Afghanistan face a must-win Champions Trophy clash in Lahore, with dew, batting-friendly conditions, and past upsets making it a crucial match for both. Here is the pitch report and weather Forecast of Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore.

ENG vs AFG Weather Forecast, Pitch Report of Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore | ICC Champions Trophy 2025

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Delhi Capitals dominated Gujarat Giants with a stellar pace bowling attack. Jess Jonassen’s explosive 61* sealed a six-wicket win, taking DC to the top of the WPL 2025 points table.

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With a match abandoned between South Africa and Australia, the equation has been more complicated in Group B. Here is the updated ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Points table.