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Australia extend lead over India atop Test rankings

May 03, 2016 17:13 IST

South Africa drop three places to No 6

No 9 Bangladesh trail the No 8 West Indies by eight points

IMAGE: : Australia’s team celebrates with the Trans Tasman Trophy after winning the Test series against New Zealand in Christchurch, on February 24, 2016. Photograph: Photograph: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

Australia opened up a six-point lead over India at the top of the MRF Tyres ICC Test Team Rankings following the annual update, with the results from 2012-13 no longer included in the calculations and outcomes from the 2014-15 series weighted at 50 per cent.

India now leads third-placed Pakistan by just a point.

Pakistan benefited from the annual update, as the 3-0 defeat against South Africa in 2012-13 no longer counts, while the 2-0 loss to Sri Lanka in 2014-15 has its weighting reduced to 50 per cent.

The annual Test update has resulted in South Africa dropping from third place to sixth after conceding 17 points. This is due to their victories over England, Australia, New Zealand and Pakistan in 2012-13 all being dropped from the rankings calculations.

The annual update has also affected the West Indies, which retained eight position but dropped from 76 points to 65 points.

This is because its victories over New Zealand, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe in 2012-13 have all been dropped from the calculations.

The gap between the West Indies and ninth-ranked Bangladesh is thus slashed from 29 points to just eight points.

With Sri Lanka and Pakistan visiting England this summer for three and four Tests respectively, Australia traveling to Sri Lanka in July for three Tests and South Africa hosting New Zealand in August for two Tests, the series outcomes may well result in significant movements on the Test team rankings.

Some of the key series results from 2012-13 no longer in calculation include: West Indies v New Zealand (WI won 2-0); England v South Africa (SA won 2-0); Sri Lanka v New Zealand (1-all draw); Australia v South Africa (SA won 1-0); India v England (Eng won 2-1); South Africa v Pakistan (SA won 3-0); India v Australia (Ind won 4-0); New Zealand v England (0-0 draw).

Some of the key series results from 2014-15, now reduced from 100 per cent to 50 per cent, include: England v Sri Lanka (SL won 1-0); West Indies v New Zealand (NZ won 2-1); England v India (Eng won 3-1); Sri Lanka v Pakistan (SL won 2-0); West Indies v Bangladesh (WI won 2-0); South Africa v West Indies (SA won 2-0); Australia v India (Aus won 2-0); West Indies v England (1-all draw)