How are points calculated in WTC points table?

Credit: ICC

How to calculate the points for the World Test Championship (WTC) points table or standings is a study of how points are awarded to teams in the case of wins, losses and defeats over the course of a WTC cycle. As on date, the first-ever World Test Championship cycle came into effect in the yesteryears' 2019-2021 season. That was over half a decade back in time. And most recently, one saw the two titanic forces of world cricket, South Africa and Australia competing in the WTC final that most recently took place in mid-June 2025, with the Proteas emerging as victors. The current World Test Championship has already commenced with its final poised to take place in 2027, which is eighteen months, roughly speaking, from the present day. All of that said, at the heart of the WTC is the point scoring system.

What is World Test Championship (WTC) Points Scoring System?

First and foremost, what is important is to understand the fact that the World Test Championship (WTC) exercises what is called a points-based system with which it ranks teams with respect to every single Test match that the teams play.

Now how does the point scoring system come into play? It ought to be noted that points are awarded to cover every possible outcome of a five-day game or a Test match, irrespective of whether a match (or contest) ends up in a draw, a loss, a win or a tie, in then end.

At the end of the day, all of these outcomes whether earned by a Sri Lanka, a developing team rediscovering its rhythm, a South Africa, the current champions of Test cricket or weaklings such as the West Indies, are vital as it decides every side's eventual fate in the World Test Championship standings.

And where it stands at the present moment, then the brand new WTC cycle, beginning from 2025 until the end of 2027, is already into effect and the final match is scheduled to happen the year after next, i.e., 2027.

The ongoing 2025–27 WTC cycle already kicked off with the Sri Lanka vs. Bangladesh Test match that took place a few weeks ago in Galle, in Sri Lanka. Over the next two years, the current WTC cycle is slated to feature several high-profile series, which will include India’s tour of England and the revered Ashes series set to take place in Australia.

Having said the above, let us delve into how the WTC points are calculated and what peculiarities come into play?

How are points extended to teams in WTC points table?

In all fairness, every single Test playing team has a great chance to impact/improve its overall performance in the longest format of the game the moment it plays Test cricket under the WTC window.

The following is the way in which points are extended to teams given different results earned.

When a team wins: it earns 12 points

When both teams end up achieving a draw: then 4 points per team are awarded

In case of a tie: 6 points per team are extended

That being told, the purose here is to achieve a sense of tangibility.

What is meant by the Points Percentage System (PCT) in WTC points table?

While the outcomes of the Test matches determines how the points are awarded to each team, on the whole, the WTC standings are governed by what is meant by the Points Percentage System (PCT).

This means nothing else but the overall proportion of points that a particular team manages to secure given the maximum available points from the matches that a team plays in a cycle.

The keepers of the game, i.e., the ICC have ensured a system that is aimed at introducing a system of transparency and fairness. But the key facet here are factors like performance and consistency that end up playing a huge role in the end, irrespective of a particular team.

What are some of the penalties like such as the slow-over rates in WTC points table?

Like in every game, where there's either a win or a loss or even a draw, there's also a scope to earn or be levied penalties as well. The teams are fundamentally required to complete a certain quota of overs (when bowling) within a specified time frame or time limit. But in situations where a team fails to do so and exceeds the overall time limit required within which it is expected to bowl (the fixed number of overs), a team is tantamount to be struck with penalty points.

This system is known as slow over rates. But a question remains - what does it boil down to?

To put it simply, every time a team fails to complete the given quota of overs within a specific time frame, it earns one penalty point and that means that the rule governing slow-over rates comes into effect.

Also Read: Explained: What is WTC Points Table?