Australia have officially reaffirmed their status as the king of the red-ball format, clinching a dominant 4-1 Ashes series victory over England after a hard-fought five-wicket win in the Sydney Test on January 8, 2026.

Australia’s dominating victory over England in the final Ashes 2025-27 test in Sydney

While England’s young prodigy Jacob Bethell delayed the inevitable with a breathtaking maiden century of 154, the sheer relentless depth of the Australian side eventually broke through to secure the final match of the summer. The victory at the SCG was not just about the historic urn but also served as an emotional farewell to veteran opener Usman Khawaja, who bowed out of international cricket on a winning note. This series triumph marks a significant milestone for stand-in skipper Steve Smith and his veteran attack, who successfully navigated a minor wobble on the final morning to reach their 160-run target post-lunch. With this result, the curtain falls on a grueling yet captivating Ashes campaign that leaves Australia at the pinnacle of the cricketing world and England searching for answers after their sixth defeat of the cycle.

Australia’s iron grip on the WTC 2025-27 summit

The 4-1 series scoreline has significantly padded Australia’s lead at the top of the World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27 standings, as they begin the 2026 calendar year with an imposing points percentage (PCT) of 87.50. Having won seven of their eight matches in this cycle, with their only blemish being the Boxing Day collapse at the MCG, the Aussies have established a formidable cushion between themselves and the chasing pack.

This clinical consistency across two major series (a 3-0 sweep of the West Indies and this 4-1 Ashes victory) makes them the overwhelming favorites to secure a spot in the 2027 Final. For a team that has been a mainstay in WTC finals, this latest surge proves that their aging core still possesses the tactical discipline and hunger to dominate the world’s most elite competition.

England’s descent and the WTC 2025-27 mid-table logjam

In stark contrast, England’s Bazball era is facing a statistical crisis in the WTC standings, as they remain languishing in 7th place with a dismal PCT of 31.66. Despite showing glimpses of brilliance from players like Jacob Bethell and Joe Root, Ben Stokes‘ side has now suffered six losses in just 10 matches, effectively ending their realistic hopes of reaching the championship final.

Meanwhile, the mid-table has become a crowded battleground; New Zealand (77.78) and South Africa (75.00) currently hold the second and third spots, respectively, but have played far fewer games. India finds themselves in a precarious 6th position with a 48.15 PCT after a mixed run of form, meaning the subcontinental giants will likely need a near-perfect record in their upcoming home and away assignments to climb back into contention.

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WTC 2025-27 standings: India and the chasing pack

The final day at the SCG has crystalized a stratified leaderboard where India currently sits in 6th place with 52 points from nine matches, struggling to find momentum under the leadership of Shubman Gill. Ahead of them, the top five is rounded out by Sri Lanka (66.67) in fourth and Pakistan (50.00) in fifth, both of whom remain in a waiting game as their schedules ramp up later in the year.

At the bottom of the table, Bangladesh occupies the 8th spot with a PCT of 16.67, while the West Indies are rooted to the base in 9th with a mere 4.17 PCT after a winless run of eight matches. This updated hierarchy highlights a massive gulf between Australia and the rest of the world, leaving a desperate scrap for the second qualification spot among five nations separated by fewer than 30 percentage points.

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