Australia breeze to a big win over South Africa in Durban

A disciplined Australian bowling unit finished the job in clinical fashion on Day 5 of the Durban Test, clinching a 214-run triumph to draw first blood in the three-match ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 series.

The visitors laid the groundwork earlier in the match when Matt Renshaw played his best-ever Test knock, stroking a magnificent 190 to propel Australia to 390 in their first turn with the bat.

South Africa responded with 284, anchored by resilient knocks from David Bedingham and Aiden Markram, leaving Australia with a handy 106-run advantage at the halfway mark.

Refusing to sit on their lead, Australia turned up the heat in their second innings on Day 4, declaring at 314/6 after brisk half-centuries from Renshaw and Nic Maddinson, alongside late fireworks from Pat Cummins and Beau Webster.

Tasked with an improbable target of 421, South Africa's top order collapsed under the floodlights on Day 4 evening as Josh Hazlewood and part-timer Renshaw reduced the hosts to 102/4 at stumps.

Resuming the final morning at 102/4, South Africa faced an uphill battle as Aiden Markram and Wiaan Mulder dug in during an extended period of resistance.

Markram compiled a resilient 75 off 237 deliveries, holding the innings together while Mulder chipped in with 29 before falling to Hazlewood right before lunch.

The breakthrough opened the floodgates in the second session as wickets tumbled rapidly under disciplined pressure from the Australian pace and spin battery.

Renshaw struck shortly after the resumption to remove Kyle Verreynne for one, adding another clever scalp to his memorable all-round performance.

Hazlewood then delivered a devastating spell with the second new ball, tearing through the lower order to finish with career-best figures of 6/49.

Hazlewood accounted for Marco Jansen (35) and Simon Harmer (0) in quick succession, while Mitchell Starc removed the resolute Markram for 75.

The resistance officially concluded when Anrich Nortje top-edged a short ball off Hazlewood, with Nathan Lyon pouching the catch at short cover to bowl South Africa out for 206.

Australia celebrated a thoroughly deserved 214-run victory, taking a 1-0 lead heading into the second Test in Gqeberha (starting on Sunday).

With this result, Australia have solidified their grip atop the World Test Championship Standings, while South Africa have slipped to the third spot as New Zealand make it to the second.

As the cycle enters a crucial phase, the teams now look to strengthen their case for a top-two finish.

In recent weeks, the World Test Championship has seen exciting cricketing action across continents.

The series in Australia had a thrilling start as Bangladesh scripted a historic victory in the first Test even as the hosts made a comeback in the second to level the series.

India got back to winning ways with a stellar 165-run victory in Galle, before a brilliant fight led by Sonal Dinusha helped Sri Lanka secure a famous draw in Colombo.

England followed up their thumping win against Pakistan in Leeds with another big victory at Lord’s and eventually a comfortable triumph in Edgbaston, to take a 3-0 series sweep.

There will be many more changes in the standings as the quest for the WTC Final continues and exciting contests are played over the 2026/27 season.

Here we take a look at how the teams stack up in the standings.

1 Australia

Played: 11

Wins: 9

Points Percentage: 81.82

Leading run-scorer this cycle: Travis Head (934 runs)

Leading wicket-taker this cycle: Mitchell Starc (61 wickets)

Series remaining: SA (2), NZ (4), IND (5)

The 2023 World Test Championship winners have made a near-perfect start to the cycle. A series sweep over West Indies in the Caribbean was followed by a dominant Ashes retention at home.

A surprise defeat to Bangladesh cut Australia's lead at the top of the ICC World Test Championship standings but they bounced back with a win in Mackay to strengthen their position further.

The Aussies have now further strengthened their lead at the top of the standings following their dominant showing in Durban to beat South Africa in their own turf.

Matt Renshaw's supreme showing with the willow, combined with the visitors' experienced bowling lineup paved the way for a 214-run win in the fourth innings.

With a win in the WTC Test series opener against South Africa in Durban and with just two defeats in 11 matches, Australia remain firmly on course for a third consecutive WTC Final appearance.

Apart from two more Tests against the Proteas, challenging away tour to India await later in the cycle, while New Zealand are set to visit them towards the end of 2026 for a four-Test series.

2 New Zealand

Played: Six

Wins: Four

Points Percentage: 72.22

Leading run-scorer this cycle: Devon Conway (676 runs)

Leading wicket-taker this cycle: Jacob Duffy (23 wickets)

Series remaining: IND (2), SL (2), AUS (4), PAK (2)

The inaugural WTC champions had to wait for their first outing this cycle but made an immediate impact against the West Indies.

After a hard-fought high-scoring draw, New Zealand bounced back with a clinical nine-wicket win before sealing the series emphatically with a 323-run victory in the third Test.

The Black Caps strengthened their position near the top of the standings with a memorable 2-1 away series victory over England.

After losing the opening Test, New Zealand bounced back with successive victories to finish the tour strongly and improve to four wins from six matches this cycle.

Home series against India and Sri Lanka are on the horizon along with demanding away tours of Australia and Pakistan.

3 South Africa

Played: Five

Wins: Three

Points Percentage: 60.00

Leading run-scorer this cycle: Aiden Markram (311 runs)

Leading wicket-taker this cycle: Simon Harmer (32 wickets)

Series remaining: AUS (2), BAN (2), ENG (3), SL (2)

South Africa, who occupied the second slot in the standings until the beginning of their three-Test series against the Aussies, have now slipped to third following their defeat in the opening Test in Durban.

The defending WTC champions had underlined their credentials with a commanding 2-0 away series win over India - their first success on Indian soil in 25 years, and followed it up by drawing the series against Pakistan.

With two more Tests to go against Australia, it remains to be seen if the holders can make it to a second-successive trip to the Ultimate Test.

4 Bangladesh

Played: Six

Wins: Three

Points Percentage: 55.56

Leading run-scorer this cycle: Najmul Hossain Shanto (647 runs)

Leading wicket-taker this cycle: Taijul Islam (24 wickets)

Series remaining: WI (2), ENG (2), SA (2)

Bangladesh have made a competitive start to the cycle despite losing their opening series in Sri Lanka.

Their victories have kept them firmly in contention heading into a crucial run of fixtures.

A stunning away victory over Australia has given Bangladesh a major boost in their race for a place in the ICC World Test Championship Final. Combined with their earlier home series win over Pakistan, the result has put Bangladesh in a strong position as they look to build on their momentum.

Bangladesh will now aim to carry this form into their upcoming home series against the West Indies and England and the challenging away series against South Africa.

5 India

Played: Eleven

Wins: Five

Points Percentage: 51.52

Leading run-scorer this cycle: Shubman Gill (1024 runs)

Leading wicket-taker this cycle: Mohammed Siraj (43 wickets)

Series remaining: AUS (5), NZ (2)

After a high-octane drawn series against England, India find themselves under pressure following a 2-0 home series defeat to South Africa. The two-time WTC runners-up have crossed the halfway stage of their campaign with ground to make up.

With little margin for error moving forward, India needed the best possible start in Sri Lanka before their challenges against New Zealand (away) and Australia (home).

A ton from Devdutt Padikkal and a sensational bowling performance from Manav Suthar gave them a brilliant win in Galle. They looked well placed to make it 2-0 in Colombo but a resilient Sri Lankan fightback saw the second Test end in a draw. India won the series 1-0, though they would have wanted to take more points from the tour.

Next up for India are two Tests in New Zealand. Their quest to reclaim the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia at home could also boost their chances of reaching the WTC27 Final.

6 England

Played: 16

Wins: Seven

Points Percentage: 38.54

Leading run-scorer this cycle: Joe Root (1272 runs)

Leading wicket-taker this cycle: Josh Tongue (64 wickets)

Series remaining: SA (3), BAN (2)

England followed their win at Leeds and Lord's with an eight-wicket victory over Pakistan to seal their three-match series on a perfect note.

England have won seven of their 16 Tests in the current cycle, while also suffering series defeats to New Zealand and Australia. They have also been docked points for maintaining a slow over-rate in their clashes.

Despite the positive outcomes against Pakistan, England have only two series remaining in this cycle, against South Africa and Bangladesh respectively.

Interestingly, both the highest run-getter and wicket-taker in this cycle belong to England, in the form of Joe Root and Josh Tongue.

7 Sri Lanka

Played: Six

Wins: One

Points Percentage: 33.33

Leading run-scorer this cycle: Sonal Dinusha (606 runs)

Leading wicket-taker this cycle: Asitha Fernando (25 wickets)

Series remaining: SA (2), PAK (2), NZ (2)

Sri Lanka opened the cycle with a series victory over Bangladesh but were unable to build on that momentum, losing their subsequent away series to West Indies.

They also suffered a loss at home to India in Galle, but fought back strongly in Colombo to secure a draw. A resilient batting effort, led once again by Sonal Dinusha, helped Sri Lanka hold on and deny India a series sweep.

With only one win from six Tests, they face an uphill battle as difficult series against South Africa, New Zealand and Pakistan still lie ahead.

8 West Indies

Played: 12

Wins: Two

Points Percentage: 20.83

Leading run-scorer this cycle: Shai Hope (792 runs)

Leading wicket-taker this cycle: Shamar Joseph (35 wickets)

Series remaining: BAN (2)

West Indies secured their second win of the cycle in the first Test against Pakistan but failed to carry that momentum into the second. The drawn series sees them sit at the second-last place in this edition of the WTC cycle.

Earlier, West Indies earned a timely boost with a 1-0 series victory in Sri Lanka, securing their first series win of the cycle after drawing the second Test.

Currently in a rebuilding phase under captain Roston Chase, West Indies will be hoping to finish the cycle on a strong note when they face Bangladesh in their final series of the campaign.

9 Pakistan

Played: Nine

Wins: Two

Points Percentage: 4.63

Leading run-scorer this cycle: Shan Masood (546 runs)

Leading wicket-taker this cycle: Mohammad Abbas (41 wickets)

Series remaining: SL (2), NZ (2)

After a strong comeback in the West Indies to tie the series, Pakistan had a tough start to their England tour. In the absence of Babar Azam, the side succumbed to an innings loss in Leeds.

They were unable to turn things around at Lord’s, suffering a 194-run defeat despite a fine nine-wicket haul from Mohammad Abbas. The loss saw Pakistan’s points percentage drop further in the standings.

Despite a number of changes in the third Test at Edgbaston, Pakistan lost the series 3-0, further denting their points percentage.

Pakistan’s campaign took another hit after a slow over-rate Edgbaston due to which 11 points were further docked.