India concludes 2016 atop the ICC Test rankings

An impressive 4-0 win in the Test series will witness India remain on top of the ICC Test rankings for the year 2016. Virat Kohli’s men completed improbable yet impressive innings and 75-run win over their opponents England in the fifth and final Test match at the M Chidambaram Stadium in Chepauk, Chennai. A feature of Kohli’s side’s win is the simple fact that they have been aggressive and ruthless, something that is a requirement for a modern-day team.

Five rating points in the series see the Indians move up to 120 points while they are trailed by Australia who is currently 15 points adrift of the Indians despite wins in the final and the first Test matches against South Africa and Pakistan respectively. It will not be possible for the Aussies to reach or surpass the Indian’s amassing of points due to the fact that they will play just the one Test match in the year.

Only two Tests are pending to be played in the year given the fact that Boxing Day is around the corner. The two matches to be played are the ones between Pakistan and Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground and South Africa will host Sri Lanka at Port Elizabeth. At the moment, Pakistan is still three points behind Australia. However, the kind of character they showed at Brisbane, it is easy to assume that they could very well pull one over the Aussies.

England’s plummet down the rankings has seen them lose out on four rating points and they move down the rankings to the fifth position. New Zealand, Sri Lanka, and the West Indies are the only recognizable teams below them. The next Test series to be completed is the ongoing one between Australia and Pakistan with the third and final Test slated in Sydney from January 3-7.

The side at the top of the rankings on 1 April will receive $ 1 million. The second-placed side will be awarded $ 500,000 while the third and fourth-placed sides will receive $ 200,000 and $ 100,000 each.