By IANS
Dubai : The 1-0 win in the three-match Test series against Pakistan has helped India move to the fourth spot in the International Cricket Council (ICC) Test Championship rankings.
Both India and South Africa have 109 points. But when calculated to decimal point South Africa is a fraction of point ahead of India in the third spot. Australia is still the leading team in the rankings with 143 points followed by England in the second place with 111 points.
Pakistan following the series loss are now sixth with 94 points while Sri Lanka are fifth with 105 points.
The ICC Test Ranking is only updated at the end of each series. This is because a team that wins a series outright receives an additional bonus. As such, the impact of the ongoing series between Sri Lanka and England will only be felt at the end of the third Test, which begins in Galle, Dec 18.
England needs to win that match if it is to retain its second position on the ladder. If it only manages a draw or if it is defeated in Galle, then it will fall to a lowly fifth spot.
A draw would give Sri Lanka a 1-0 series win and move it up to third on the list but if Mahela Jayawardena’s team can finish the series 2-0 up, it would shoot up to second place, ahead of South Africa and India.
ICC Test Championship:
1. Australia 143
2. England 111
3. South Africa 109
4. India 109
5. Sri Lanka 105
6. Pakistan 94
7. New Zealand 91
8. West Indies 72
9. Bangladesh 4