Team India becomes No.1 Test team

India topped the ICC Test rankings with 112 points after Sri Lanka won the series 3-0 against Australia. Australia had arrived in Colombo in number-one position on 118 points. But following the defeats by 106 runs in Pallekele in the 1st Test, 229 runs in Galle in the 2nd Test and 163 runs in Colombo in the 3rd & final Test, Australia has joined England on 108 points but is ranked above Alastair Cook’s side, while Sri Lanka has jumped to 95 points.

To retain the number-one position, India will now have to win the fourth and final Test of the four-Test series against the West Indies, which begins in Port of Spain on Thursday, 18 August . For Pakistan to reach the no.1 spot, West Indies has to win or draw the final Test against India at Trinidad. The highest Pakistan has ever reached is second position following its series win over England in the United Arab Emirates last year.

Currently, Australia dropped to the third spot with 108 points and England also sharing the same points with Australia. At No.5, Black Caps with 99 points. Sri Lanka have climbed to No.6 spot with 95 points ahead of South Africa, which is at No.7 in the rankings table.

If India wins the fourth Test, then it will finish on 112 points – one ahead of Pakistan – but it will end on 110 points if the Test is drawn or on 108 points in fourth place in the case of West Indies winning the final Test. The Caribbean team is currently at No.8 with 65 points.

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Here are the ICC Test Team Rankings (as on 17 August, after Sri Lanka-Australia series)

Rank Team              Points

1          India                112

2          Pakistan          111

3          Australia         108 (-10)

4          England           108

5          New Zealand   99

6          Sri Lanka        95 (+10)

7          South Africa   92

8          West Indies     65

9          Bangladesh     57

10        Zimbabwe       8