South Africa Stun Australia to Claim No. 1 Test Ranking

Dr. Annelies De Vos · 2026-11-01

Australia's reign at the top of Test cricket is over. South Africa's 2-1 series win in Cape Town didn't just clinch the series—it knocked Australia off the No. 1 ranking and shook up the World Test Championship table. ### Australia Slips to No. 3 in WTC Standings South Africa's victory moved them to second in the WTC points table with a 71.43 percentage, while Australia dropped to third at 69.23. Before the series, Australia had a comfortable 80 percentage points. Now, the race for the WTC final is wide open. New Zealand lead the pack with 72.22 percentage points, and India sit fourth at 51.52. With the top three teams separated by just a few points, every match counts. ### Bavuma: This Is the Best Series of My Career South Africa captain Temba Bavuma couldn't hide his pride. "That [No.1 ranking] is exceptional," he said. "I think that's obviously been a part of our ambition as a team." For Bavuma, the series against Australia was special. "Every time you get an opportunity to come up against Australia, you savour that. I don't think I've been involved in a better series." He called it the best Test result of his career and emphasized the team's desire to keep raising the bar. > "We want to leave the Proteas badge in a stronger position than before." – Temba Bavuma ### What's Next for Australia and South Africa? Australia will look to bounce back on home soil. They host New Zealand in a four-match Test series starting December 9 in Perth. It's a chance to regain points and climb back up the WTC ladder. South Africa have a two-week break before welcoming Bangladesh for a two-match series in November. Their performance there will determine if they can hold off Australia. Meanwhile, New Zealand face India in a two-match series in November and December before traveling to Australia. With so little separating the top teams, the rankings could shift after every series. India, currently fourth, have an opportunity to improve their position when they take on New Zealand. The race for the WTC final is heating up, and every match will be crucial. Stay tuned for more cricket updates and analysis.