The Indian fans who took umbrage at India’s drop to eighth place in the
ICC’s latest ODI rankings can take heart from the Test ratings
Wisden CricInfo staff23-Jul-2003The Indian fans who took umbrage at India’s drop to eighth place in the
ICC’s latest ODI rankings can take heart from the Test ratings. India have
moved up one spot to fifth place in the ICC Test table. In the latest update
to the table, India have gained three points for a tally of 94, primarily
because results from the period August 1999 to July 2000 were dropped off.
India lost five out of eight Tests during that year – a 0-3 drubbing in
Australia was followed by a 0-2 whitewash at home against South Africa.
Meanwhile, England, who lock horns with South Africa in a five-Test, have a
chance to make some big moves in the rankings. Even if they win the series
1-0, they will supplant New Zealand in third place on the table. This comes
about because results from three years ago drop off the official table, and
that includes the 2-1 series victory New Zealand achieved over England in
1999.
To move to second, England needs to achieve at least a 4-0 series win. This
is despite the fact that in the re-shaping of the championship South Africa
are the team to have benefitted most. South Africa could consolidate its
place on the table by winning the series. But even if it were to achieve an
improbable whitewash of England it would not be sufficient to overhaul the
rampant Australians in top position.
When the update occurs on August 1, the positions will be: (with rating
change in brackets)
1 Australia 129 points (presuming it beats Bangladesh in second Test
starting Friday in Cairns) (0), 2 South Africa 119 (+ 4), 3 New Zealand 107
(+ 3), 4 England 101 (+ 3), 5 India 94 (+ 3), 6 Sri Lanka 91 (- 6), 7
Pakistan 90 (- 1), 8 West Indies 83 (+ 1), 9 Zimbabwe 58 (0), 10 Bangladesh
(-2).
