The WTC Table Without Points Penalties: England Make Big Jump, Australia Leapfrog India

England have been hit with another over-rate penalty in the World Test Championship, bringing their total points deductions in the 2023-25 cycle to 22 and pushing them further back from the top five sides in the table.

New Zealand were also hit with a penalty, both sides being punished for slow-over rates in the Christchurch Test match. Each side was docked three points and both teams were fined 15 per cent of their match fees for the offence. While England were already out of the World Test Championship final race, New Zealand's already slim chances of making a second final have been significantly dented by the penalty.

Ben Stokes later took to Instagram to vent his frustration at the penalty, writing on his story: "Good on you ICC. [We] finished the game with 10 hours of play still left."

England have by far wracked up the most points deductions of any team during the cycle. They were docked 19 points following the 2023 Ashes, with their latest penalty taking them to 22 points lost. The team with the next-most points deducted is Australia, who's penalties so far add up to 10 points.

There was controversy over the penalties awarded for slow over-rates after the 2023 Ashes, with the ICC having changed its rules on the sanctions. While teams were previously punished only in bowling innings longer than 60 overs, and in games where they bowled more than 120 overs if they bowled out the opposition twice in the game. Those thresholds were raised by the ICC to 80 and 160 respectively. Under the old rule, Australia would have been eligible for more penalties, while England were penalised for the Old Trafford Test where they bowled 161.2 overs in the game and were penalised. At Christchurch, they bowled 165.1 overs. For every over that a team is behind the number of overs they should have bowled during a Test match, they are docked one point.

Current World Test Championship standings

Position Team Played Won Lost Draw Penalties Points PCT 1 India 15 9 5 1 2 110 61.11 2 South Africa 9 5 3 1 0 64 59.26 3 Australia 13 8 4 1 10 90 57.69 4 Sri Lanka 10 5 5 0 0 60 50.00 5 New Zealand 12 6 6 0 3 69 47.92 6 England 20 10 9 1 22 102 42.50 7 Pakistan 10 4 6 0 8 40 33.33 8 Bangladesh 12 4 8 0 3 45 31.25 9 West Indies 11 2 7 2 0 32 24.24

In the updated World Test Championship standings following the application of the penalties and Bangladesh's victory in Kingston over West Indies, England maintain their previous place in sixth. They have 102 points from 20 games and a PCT of 42.50. New Zealand have dropped back from Sri Lanka in fourth, and now have a PCT of 47.92. Realistically, the race for a place in the final is between the top four of India, South Africa, Australia and Sri Lanka.

While some teams have suffered more over rate penalties than others, if those penalties hadn't been applied it wouldn't drastically alter which teams would be the hunt for the final - but it would narrow the race down.

READ: Updated World Test Championship standings after Bangladesh's series-levelling win over West Indies

What would the WTC table look like without penalties applied?

Position Team Played Won Lost Draw Points PCT 1 Australia 13 8 4 1 100 64.10 2 India 15 9 5 1 112 62.22 3 South Africa 9 5 3 1 64 59.25 4 England 20 10 9 1 124 51.66 5 New Zealand 12 6 6 0 72 50.00 6 Sri Lanka 10 5 5 0 60 50.00 7 Pakistan 10 4 6 0 48 40.00 8 Bangladesh 12 4 8 8 48 33.33 9 West Indies 11 2 7 2 32 24.24

In the case that the penalties were not applied, India would drop down into second place with their PCT marginally increasing to 62.22 when their two-point deduction is taken away. Australia would leapfrog two positions into first place, with their PCT significantly improving to 64.10 when their 10 points-worth of deductions are taken away. South Africa would drop down into third, with their PCT remaining the same given that they have had no over-rate deductions.

Those would be the three teams most likely to secure a place in the WTC final under this hypothetical scenario. The major losers in this regard are Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka have had no over-rate penalties and thus their PCT remains the same (50.00). However, they would be leapfrogged by England if their deductions were taken away, and also be level on PCT with New Zealand. They would also be significantly further behind the PCT required for a second-place finish.

While England would also benefit from having their points deductions erased, it would still likely not be enough to secure them a WTC final place. With the 22 points they've been penalised for given back to them, England's PCT would jump from 42.50, to 51.66, and they would move up two places to fourth in the table. Given that their PCT would still be a fair way behind South Africa's in third and even further behind India and Australia in second and first, they would be in mathematical contention for a WTC final place, but they would be outsiders.

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