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The strong Australian team has won five consecutive matches in this WTC and continues to sit atop the ICC World Test Championship standings. Led by stand-in captain Steve Smith, Baggy Greens took a 2-0 lead in the ongoing Ashes match.
Australia have further extended their lead in the home Ashes Test series after defeating England in the day/night pink-ball Test at Brisbane’s iconic Gabba Stadium. Australia inevitably performed well in the pink-ball Tests and they continue to hold on to their record.
As well as extending their lead in the Ashes, Australia have also continued their excellent form in the current ICC World Test Championship. They won all 5 games in the competition without losing or drawing. Australia may be looking at a third trip to the World Trade Center finals.
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Joe Root’s maiden hundred in vain as Australia beat England in pink-ball Test
England veteran Joe Root, who has never reached the triple-digit mark in Australia’s longest Test on home soil, did so for the first time in this match. The England great got off to a respectable start for England by scoring his 40th Test hundred in the first innings.
Australian pacer Mitchell Starc turned the tide in the series by taking another 6 wicket haul. The specialist pacer took 18 wickets in two games and was also the Man of the Match in the Caribbean series against West Indies.
Root’s hundred was in vain as several players from Australia’s XI made important contributions with half-centuries. Travis Hyde and Cameron Green missed the 50s but are still promising scorers.
But it was Mitchell Starc’s 77 that really changed the game, giving England pacers a torment on day three as Australia crossed the 500-run mark and took a 170-run advantage heading into the second innings. The next game-changing moment was Michael Neser’s 5-wicket haul as England were bowled out for just 241 in the second innings. Australia are chasing a target of 65 runs with 8 wickets remaining.
ICC World Test Championship Points Table (Updated)
| Location | team | played | won | lost | painting | Dede | integral | PCT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Australia | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 60 | 100.00 |
| 2 | South Africa | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 36 | 75.00 |
| 3 | Sri Lanka | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 16 | 66.67 |
| 4 | Pakistan | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 50.00 |
| 5 | India | 9 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 52 | 48.15 |
| 6 | New Zealand | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 33.33 |
| 7 | England | 7 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 26 | 30.95 |
| 8 | Bangladesh | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 16.67 |
| 9 | west indies | 6 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 5.56 |
Pat Cummins likely to make Adelaide comeback
Australia captain Pat Cummins has been ruled out of competitive cricket since July 2025 and is expected to make his comeback in the Ashes. With Cummins almost contemplating a comeback at the Gabba, it’s a safe bet that he will definitely return in Adelaide.
Upon his return, the captaincy will be back in the hands of the speedster. However, Steve Smith has been an absolute gem of a captain over the last two games. His timing of switching between bowlers, defensive positioning and tactics of pressuring the opposition all came in handy.
