The troubled beginning of Pakistan’s journey in the World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27 worsened following a crushing defeat by an innings and 103 runs against England during the opening Test match at Headingley on Friday. Having conceded a monumental 238-run lead in the first innings, the touring side crumbled to a mere 135 runs in their second turn at the crease.
Deliveries from Ollie Robinson and Josh Tongue spearheaded the English bowling attack, supported by an impactful early spell from Jofra Archer with the brand-new ball. Robinson claimed the Player of the Match honors after securing an eight-wicket haul across the game, marking a triumphant start to Joe Root’s second tenure leading the Test squad.
Pakistan slump to the base of the WTC standings
This loss carried severe consequences for Pakistan in the revised WTC table. The squad captained by Salman Agha has suffered five defeats out of seven fixtures in this tournament phase, placing them in the ninth position with a point percentage (PCT) of 19.05%. Their descent to the last spot was finalized as the West Indies climbed higher in the rankings. Meanwhile, England hold onto seventh place even after their decisive win, raising their PCT to 29.76%.
At the same time, Australia maintains their stronghold on the peak of the table with seven victories from nine matches. Behind them, South Africa and New Zealand hold the second and third spots, with Bangladesh retaining fourth place on a PCT of 66.67%. India occupies the fifth rank at 53.33%, following their comprehensive 165-run triumph against Sri Lanka during the series opener in Galle.
English side celebrates victory to kick off Root’s return to captaincy
A masterful display in Leeds allowed England to transition into the post-Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum phase on a high note. Having bowled the visitors out for 171 in their opening turn, the hosts responded with a formidable total of 409. Harry Brook set the pace with a fine 91, bolstered by half-century contributions from Jordan Cox, Joe Root, and Dan Lawrence.
Facing an uphill battle in their second turn at bat, Pakistan’s batting lineup crumbled against the hostile English fast bowlers. Archer dismantled the top order by dismissing both opening batsmen, which paved the way for Robinson and Tongue to claim three scalps apiece to wrap up the dominant win. This victory marked England’s seventh straight Test success at Headingley, bringing the contest to an end within three days.
As Pakistan languishes at the tail end of the standings and England remains eager to break into the upper tier, both squads face a challenging journey through the rest of this WTC cycle. This outcome intensifies the competition among the leading contenders as the battle to reach the final heats up.
Latest WTC 2025-27 Standings
| Rank | Team | Matches | Won | Lost | Drawn | Point Deductions | Points | PCT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Australia | 9 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 84 | 77.78% |
| 2 | South Africa | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 36 | 75.00% |
| 3 | New Zealand | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 52 | 72.22% |
| 4 | Bangladesh | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 40 | 66.67% |
| 5 | India | 10 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 64 | 53.33% |
| 6 | Sri Lanka | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 20 | 33.33% |
| 7 | England | 14 | 5 | 8 | 1 | 14 | 50 | 29.76% |
| 8 | West Indies | 13 | 3 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 42 | 26.92% |
| 9 | Pakistan | 7 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 8 | 12 | 14.28% |
