ICC Test Rankings: Pakistan elevate to No. 2 while India down down to No. 4

As Pakistan defeated England by 127 runs in the Sharjah Test they elevated to No. 2 position of the newly updated ICC Test ranking standing. South Africa are still No. 1 with distant 127 rating points.

Shoaib Malik bade adieu Test cricket with a remarkable 7 wicket haul in the match. Pakistan victory shuffled the standing of ICC Test ranking. Australia slipped to No. 3. Though both have same rating points, Pakistan have played fewer matches than Australia. Pakistan in 28 Test have 106 rating points while Australia played 32 Test matches have same points.

Recently, Pakistan have won the Sri Lanka series Test series that helped them to climb to No. 3 while Australia’s 3-2 Ashes loss hurt their chances to climb up in the ranking.

Australia will have a chance to replace Pakistan if they can win the first match of Trans Tasman Test at Brisbane. On the first day, David Warner and Usman Khawaja’s centuries helped Australia to end with 389 for 2.

Meanwhile, England, who have regained the Ashes at home, slumped to 6^th position with 99 rating points. As Pakistan elevated to No. 2 their eternal rival India lost one place. India is currently playing against South Africa for the first Test of four-match series at Mohali. Struggling India toppled for 201 in the first innings.

Indian team under Virat Kohli have won the Test series in Sri Lanka after 22 years, which was also India’s first Test series win on foreign soil after 4 years.

South Africa have been unbeaten on foreign soil since 2006 on foreign soil are set to defend their record in India as their part-time spinner Dean Elgar and Imran Tahir bamboozled India.

The World Cup runners-up New Zealand are yet to turn Test fortune on foreign soil in their favour. They have drawn the two-Test series 1-1 in England, now have started their campaign in Australia in the quest of their first series victory.

Sri Lanka, who suffered two consecutive defeats against Pakistan and India, restored the parity winning the home Test series against shaky West Indies, who never won a Test series in Emerald Isle since their first tour in 1993.

The bottom three –West Indies, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe- stand with 75, 47 and 6 rating points respectively.

Bangladesh will have a chance to earn some points at home as they will face Zimbabwe, who recently defeated by Afghanistan at home in ODI and T20 series.

ICC Test ranking standing