India consolidates its number-one ranking
India has consolidated its position at the top of the Reliance Mobile ICC Test Championship table but Australia has dropped behind England into fifth position after losing both Tests of the series which concluded in Bengaluru on Wednesday.
India and Australia had entered the series on 127 and 113 ratings points, respectively. However, India?s victories, by one wicket in Mohali and by seven wickets in Bengaluru, have helped it earn three ratings points which now puts it 11 points clear of second-placed South Africa.
In sharp contrast, Australia has conceded three ratings points, which means it has slipped to fifth position on 110 ratings points, two behind England. This is Australia?s lowest ranking since the ICC Test Championship rankings were introduced in 2003.
However, Australia will have a chance to regain its fourth position when it goes head to head with England in a five-Test Ashes series which starts in Brisbane on 23 November.
The next couple of months will be exciting times for Test cricket as apart from the Ashes, Pakistan will be hosting South Africa in a two-Test series in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), while New Zealand will be traveling to India for a three-Test series, following which India will tour South Africa for a three-Test series. Sri Lanka will also be in action when it hosts the West Indies for a three-Test series.
Reliance Mobile ICC Test Championship (as of 13 October)
Rank Team Rating
1 India 130
2 South Africa 119
3 Sri Lanka 115
4 England 112
5 Australia 110
6 Pakistan 83
7 West Indies 79
8 New Zealand 78
9 Bangladesh 7
