Brisbane: Australia Defeats England in Ashes Series, Takes 2-0 Lead
Australia continued its dominant home performance in Test cricket, convincingly defeating England for the second time in the ongoing Ashes series, now leading 2-0. The match at the Gabba showcased a tense contest over the first four to five sessions, but Australia eventually asserted control, demonstrating their traditional strength, particularly at home. Despite a valiant effort from England’s captain Ben Stokes and Will Jacks, who battled back after a 177-run deficit in the first innings, their efforts proved insufficient against an overpowering Australian side.
Although England managed to have Australia bat second, the required target was modest, allowing the hosts to finish the match in just 10 overs. This victory extended Australia’s unbeaten streak in the new World Test Championship (WTC) cycle, having maintained a perfect record in all five matches played so far. As a result, Australia holds the top position with a 100% points percentage (PCT).
Conversely, England fell to seventh place in the rankings following three consecutive losses—one against India at the Oval in August and the two against Australia. England’s PCT has dropped to 30.95, placing them below India, Pakistan, and New Zealand, the latter of whom recently secured a draw against the West Indies in Christchurch.
In recent standings, Australia leads the WTC following their latest victory, while South Africa holds a strong second position:
| Rank | Teams | Matches | Wins | Losses | Draw | Points | PCT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Australia | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 60 | 100 |
| 2. | South Africa | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 36 | 75.00 |
| 3. | Sri Lanka | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 16 | 66.67 |
| 4. | Pakistan | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 12 | 50.00 |
| 5. | India | 9 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 52 | 48.15 |
| 6. | New Zealand | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 33.33 |
| 7. | England | 7 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 26 | 30.95 |
| 8. | Bangladesh | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 16.67 |
| 9. | West Indies | 6 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 5.56 |
England will need to assess their strategy seriously to improve their standing in the WTC, given their current record of four losses in seven matches, including a two-point penalty. With four series remaining, including three more Ashes matches, the pressure mounts on Ben Stokes and his team to turn their fortunes around.
At present, Australia and South Africa appear set for a potential repeat of the 2025 WTC final in 2027, with New Zealand also in contention. However, both India and England will need remarkable comebacks to pose a serious challenge to these top teams.
