The ICC launched the WTC last year to lend context to bilateral Test series, giving the format its standalone showpiece like the World Cup in other formats.
Australia, following their eight-wicket win in the third and final Test against Pakistan at Sydney are on 56.25 percentage points and have pushed India to the second spot in the latest WTC standings issued by ICC on Saturday.
Williamson and Co earn high praise from former captain Brendon McCullum.
Pakistan consolidated its top spot in the 2023-24 ICC World Test Championship table after a a 2-0 series sweep against Sri Lanka.
The duo, along with Ajinkya Rahane from CSK and Suryakumar Yadav from the Mumbai Indians, arrived at the team's training base located at the picturesque Arundel Castle cricket club in West Sussex.
Armed with a potent spin attack, taking on South Africa seems like competing against a "subcontinent team", Ten Doeschate said, admitting that they need to get better at negotiating the challenge posed by tweakers.
South Africa's two-test series success over Sri Lanka on Monday catapulted them to first place in the World Test Championship and put them firmly on course for next year's final in what would have been unthinkable less than a year ago.
Bavuma, in his Test journey of over a decade, as the first black batter for South Africa, has faced a lot of ups and downs. A magnificent century against England in Cape Town back in 2016 attached to him plenty of expectations.
Gibbs said leadership develops with time, and Gill possesses the composure to grow into the role.
Glenn McGrath said his prediction this time is based on how England were held to a 2-2 series draw by India in the recent Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy five-Test series.
Overall, in 25 matches Maharaj has picked up 59 wickets, averaging 17.76 with a bowling strike rate of 35.5.
New Zealand pacer Tim Southee said their World Test Championship triumph will take at least a couple of weeks to sink in.
Speaking on the sidelines of the WTC Final, Kiwi great Ross Taylor said players need to be paid adequately to continue playing international cricket.
The future of some senior India players will be decided after the tour of Australia as the BCCI evaluates the shocking 0-3 drubbing against New Zealand at home while rolling out a structured phaseout policy before the start of the next WTC cycle.
Travis Head's blistering century powered Australia's innings on Day 2 of the second Test against India
'Rather than worrying too much about results, it's about trying to stick to a brand of cricket that we want to be proud of playing. I guess that's something that came out in the 2015 World Cup and it's flowed on from there.'
'The Diary of a Cricketer's Wife' penned by Puja Pujara, capturing the journey of her husband Cheteshwar, found a hallowed introduction place at the Lord's Cricket Ground library and the author termed the book as "something for everyone."
Langer remains hopeful for Kohli's comeback, saying, "I just hope, if this is the last time (Kohli) is out here, people enjoy it because he is a superstar."
South Africa coach Shukri Conrad was overwhelmed to see his spinners rule the roost in the first Test against India at the Eden Gardens, signalling to him that the Rainbow Nation is no longer an exclusive "fast bowling country" and hoped that a lot more slow bowlers will emerge.
Kyle Verreynne revealed his emotions almost got the better of him before he hit the winning runs to end South Africa's wait for a global trophy.
Marsh was nonetheless retained in Australia's list of contracted players released on Tuesday for the 2025/26 season in an endorsement by selectors.
Australia bowled out Sri Lanka for 231 in the hosts' second innings and then chased down the target of 75 losing the lone wicket of opener Travis Head.
The Indians lost their last seven wickets for the addition of just 70 runs on the final day of the contest.
Rohit has been enduring a second consecutive poor IPL season with the bat
India last won a major ICC tournament back in 2013 -- the ICC Champions Trophy.
Fresh from a hard-fought 2-2 draw in England, Shubman Gill's men will be eager to translate their overseas resilience into home dominance.
England captain Ben Stokes said fast bowler Jofra Archer is 100 percent ready to play his first Test since February 2021.
Top Australia batter Travis Head on Saturday shattered day-night Test records at Adelaide, continuing his golden run against India.
Former Windies skipper Daren Ganga believes a change of franchise might help Sunil Narine.
Sourav Ganguly names Rishabh Pant as the next-best red-ball batter after stalwart Virat Kohli and predicts him to have a "huge impact" in the Border Gavaskar Trophy against Australia in Perth on Friday.
Mitchell Starc has reportedly decided against returning to India for the remainder of IPL 2025, dealing a blow to his team Delhi Capitals' prospects of reaching the play-offs.
New Zealand have already booked their spot for the inaugural WTC final, leaving India, England and Australia vying for the other.
'The captain of a country doesn't opt out of the final Test match of a series, a final-deciding Test match.'
ICC said it docked points and fined both England and Australia for maintaining slow over-rate during the recently-concluded Ashes series.
A 'special message' from India's pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah on the eve of Cameron Green's back surgery gave the Australian all-rounder the much-needed reassurance about his decision to go under the knife.
Labuschagne, known for his ability to score runs, especially against India, reminisced about the first time he saw Kohli don India's Test colours in the 2018 series.
Starc, who won the IPL last year with Kolkata Knight Riders, said having lack of information was also among the reasons he chose not to go back to India.
Sanath Jayasuriya has been appointed on a two-year contract till March 31, 2026.
Australia's success in Christchurch sets up home Test series against India
