SA beat Bangladesh: Decoding the ICC World Test Championship table
South Africa looked commanding from the first day's play in Durban to eventually take a 1-0 lead over Bangladesh in the two-match Test series. They beat Bangladesh by 220 runs. It was SA's first Test win in Durban since 2013. Meanwhile, WI beat ENG by 1-0 to jump a spot higher in the rankings. Here we decode the updated ICC World Test Championship table.
SA beat Bangladesh in Durban
SA imposed themselves onto Bangladesh, posting 367 in the first innings. Elgar (67) and Bavuma (93) controlled the bulk of SA's scoring. Bangladesh (298/10) fought back in the first innings, riding on Mahmudul Hasan Joy's (137) maiden century. SA continued to torment Bangladesh courtesy of Elgar's 21st fifty (64). Later, Keshav Maharaj (7/32) and Simon Harmer (3/21) bundled out the visitors on 53.
Who are the top two teams?
Australia remain intact at the top spot with a points percentage of 75.00. They have five wins and three draws across two Test series so far. SA continue to occupy the second spot. Having decimated Bangladesh in the first Test, SA now enjoy a PCT of 66.66. They have acquired 48 points in total from four wins and two losses.
Pakistan stay close to India in WTC 2021-23 table
India (third) and Pakistan (fourth) haven't moved an inch since the last rankings. They have a PCT of 58.33 and 52.38 with 77 and 44 points respectively. India last donned the whites against SL. They had whitewashed the Lankans by a 2-0 margin. Meanwhile, Pakistan lost to Australia by 1-0 in the three-match Test series ahead of their ongoing limited-overs contests.
SL, NZ fight it out in the middle
SL (sixth) have a PCT of 50.00. They have acquired 24 points so far. Prior to the defeat against India, SL had scripted a whitewash win over WI (2-0). NZ (seventh) had leveled the series against SA by 1-1. Post that, they have a PCT of 28.88 and 28 points in their kitty. They have owned two wins, three losses, and two draws.
WI, BAN interchange positions in the WTC rankings
WI (seventh) beat England by 1-0 in the three-match Test series. With that, they now have a PCT of 35.71 and 30 points from two wins, three losses, and two draws. Bangladesh (eighth), meanwhile, have slipped a position. They now have a PCT of 20.00 and 12 points. They have four losses and a sole win across three Test series (third series underway).
England languish at the bottom
England haven't shown any improvement since the last updated rankings. They occupy the bottom with 12 points and a PCT of 12.50. They have lost the most number of Tests by any team in the WTC 2021-23 (seven). They have one win and four draws to show across three Test series. Prior to the WI series, they were handed a 4-0 Ashes defeat.