WTC Points Table: New Zealand thrashed England by 423 runs on Day 4 of the third NZ vs ENG Test in Hamilton on December 17 (Tuesday), securing a consolation win and giving Tim Southee a victorious farewell in his final match. The victory also brought changes to the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25 points table, with New Zealand rising to fourth place and England slipping to sixth.
England began Day 4 with a daunting task ahead of them, requiring 640 runs to win with eight wickets in hand. Jacob Bethell and Joe Root provided a solid, counter-attacking start, but Root's dismissal triggered a collapse, allowing New Zealand to seize control and capitalize on the opportunity.
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The middle order failed to make an impact, with Harry Brook, who has been in stellar form this series, falling for his second low score of the match. Gus Atkinson provided some fireworks lower down the order with a brisk cameo. Jacob Bethell was England's top scorer with 76 off 96 balls, while Joe Root contributed 54 off 64 deliveries.
Following New Zealand's win, they climbed to the fourth position in the standings with a points percentage of 48.21, having previously been in sixth place. On the other hand, England dropped from fifth to sixth, with their points percentage now standing at 43.18.
Updated WTC Points Table After NZ vs ENG 3rd Test
| Pos | Team | Matches | Won | Lost | Drawn | NR | Points | PCT |
| 1 | South Africa | 10 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 76 | 63.33 |
| 2 | Australia | 14 | 9 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 102 | 60.71 |
| 3 | India | 16 | 9 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 110 | 57.29 |
| 4 | New Zealand | 14 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 81 | 48.21 |
| 5 | Sri Lanka | 11 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 60 | 45.45 |
| 6 | England | 22 | 11 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 114 | 43.18 |
| 7 | Pakistan | 10 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 40 | 33.33 |
| 8 | Bangladesh | 12 | 4 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 45 | 31.25 |
| 9 | West Indies | 11 | 2 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 32 | 24.24 |
Can India Qualify For WTC Final?
Australia, who are positioned second, and India, who are positioned third in the WTC points table, are facing each other off in the second IND vs AUS Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25. The series is currently tied 1-1, with two more matches to go. For India to secure direct qualification to tehe WTC final, they must win the series either 4-1 or 3-1. However, if India lose the ongoing Gabba Test but manage to win the final two matches, they will require external assistance, such as a drawn Test between Australia and Sri Lanka in their upcoming two-match series in the subcontinent.