Just days after losing the previous World Test Championship final, Australia stamped their authority on the new cycle with a comprehensive 159-run victory over the West Indies, wrapping up the first Test inside three days at Kensington Oval to move top of the table.
Josh Hazlewood produced a masterclass of discipline and accuracy, claiming 5 for 43 as the hosts were bundled out for just 141 in pursuit of an improbable 301 on a pitch that deteriorated quickly. The result has propelled Pat Cummins’s men to the top of the early WTC 2025–27 points table.
The match had threatened to slip away from Australia when they were reduced to 65 for 4 in their second innings after conceding a ten-run lead in the first. But counterattacking half-centuries from Alex Carey (65), Beau Webster (63), and Travis Head (61) transformed the innings and set up a daunting target.
The West Indies’ chase unravelled almost immediately. Mitchell Starc removed Kraigg Brathwaite in the opening over, and Hazlewood then struck twice in two balls to remove John Campbell and Brandon King.
Pat Cummins accounted for Shai Hope, and Marnus Labuschagne’s sharp run-out of Alzarri Joseph typified Australia’s intensity. While Shamar Joseph briefly entertained with a whirlwind 44 off 22 balls, Nathan Lyon ended the innings by dismissing Jayden Seales first ball.
Australia’s win has earned them 12 valuable points and takes them to the top of the new standings, ahead of England, in the still-young cycle.
| Pos | Team | Played | Won | Lost | Draw | Ded | Points | Pct |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Australia | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 100.00 |
| 2 | England | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 100.00 |
| 3 | Sri Lanka | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 16 | 66.67 |
| 4 | Bangladesh | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 16.67 |
| 5 | India | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| 6 | West Indies | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| – | New Zealand | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| – | Pakistan | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| – | South Africa | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
With two Tests remaining in the Caribbean, Australia have a golden opportunity to stamp even more authority on the points table and build an early lead in the standings. The West Indies, meanwhile, face an uphill battle to level the series and avoid slipping further behind in the WTC race.
After three days of ruthless cricket, one thing is clear: Australia’s ambition to return to another final is alive and well.