Melbourne, Australia – The Australian cricket team has reinforced its position atop the World Test Championship (WTC) rankings with a commanding 79-run victory over Pakistan in the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Captain Pat Cummins spearheaded the Australian onslaught, claiming a remarkable 10 wickets across both innings to dismantle Pakistan's batting lineup.
Chasing a target of 317, Pakistan's resistance was led by spirited half-centuries from Shan Masood and Salman Ali Agha. However, the unrelenting precision of Cummins and the fiery pace of Mitchell Starc, who captured four wickets, proved too formidable for the visitors.
This emphatic victory not only seals the three-match series 2-0 in Australia's favor but also sends a resounding message to their WTC rivals. The Australians continue to reign supreme on home soil, their bowling attack, spearheaded by Cummins and Starc, posing a formidable challenge to any opposition.
The Boxing Day Test proved to be a captivating contest, ultimately showcasing Australia's unwavering dominance. Cummins' exceptional performance stands as a testament to Australia's enduring prowess in the Test arena. As the WTC race intensifies, Australia appears poised to defend their title, while Pakistan faces the task of regrouping and addressing their batting shortcomings to reclaim their position among the elite.
| POS | TEAM | PCT (%) | PTS | W | L | D | PEN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Africa | 100 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2 | New Zealand | 50.00 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | Australia | 50.00 | 42 | 4 | 2 | 1 | -10 |
| 4 | Bangladesh | 50.00 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 5 | Pakistan | 45.83 | 22 | 2 | 2 | 0 | -2 |
| 6 | India | 38.89 | 14 | 1 | 1 | 1 | -2 |
| 7 | West Indies | 16.67 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 8 | England | 15.00 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 1 | -19 |
| 9 | Sri Lanka | 0.00 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
"Rohit Sharma's side has been docked two crucial ICC World Test Championship points in the opening Test against South Africa for bowling two overs short and has also been fined 10% of their match fee," ICC said in a release.
Chris Broad of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees imposed the sanction after India were ruled to be two overs short of the target.
India captain Rohit Sharma pled guilty to the offence and accepted the proposed sanction, so there was no need for a formal hearing.
Also Read: ICC latest Players and Team Rankings - 2023
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