The Indian team emerged as the top-rated Test side after the annual rankings were updated by the International Cricket Council for the cycle of May 2020 to May 2021. The update released on Thursday, May 13, also sees the other World Test Championship finalists New Zealand lurch behind the Indians by just one point.
But, with the latest update being issued, which rates the matches played in the last 12 months at 100% and those played in the preceding 24 months 50%, Australia have been relegated to the fourth position. But thanks to the same system, England’s 4-0 defeat to Australia in 2017-18 Ashes is out of the consideration zone for rankings and has put the English side at number three.
South Africa, on the other hand, have been forced to seventh position in the lastest rankings because of their dismal run in Test cricket over the last 24 months. This is also their lowest ever ranking in the history of the game so far.
Among the gainers is West Indies, reaching to the sixth position, their best ever in last eight years, courtesy a 2-0 series win against Bangladesh and 0-0 draw at home against Sri Lanka.
Pakistan after winning two back to back Test series against South Africa and Zimbabwe remain at the fifth position as Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe complete the rest of the table. Although Afghanistan and Ireland also have Test statuses, they have not been able to get a lot of games to be ranked thus far.