Dubai, Dec 3 (IBNS) South Africa has retained its status as the number-one ranked team on the Reliance ICC Test Championship table following its 309 runs victory over Australia in the third and final Test in Perth that has given it a 1-0 series win.
South Africa's series victory means that it is the clear leader at the top of the table, leading second-ranked England by six ratings points. Australia is still in third position but has dropped to 114 after conceding three ratings points.
However, Australia will move ahead of England if India wins the remaining two Tests in Kolkata and Nagpur.
If India does win the next two Tests, it will win the series 3-1 and also jump ahead of England, by 0.01 point. If India wins the series 3-1, then it will have 111.59 ratings points while England will have 111.58.
In sharp contrast, if England wins the remaining two Tests, then it will rise to 119 ratings points and India will drop to 103 ratings points. In case of a drawn series, England will drop two points while India will gain two points.
A total of US $3.8m in prize money will be shared among the top four sides on 1 April 2013, 2014 and 2015, after the ICC Board approved a proposal earlier this year to substantially increase incentives in the form of prize money to promote Test cricket in the period leading up to the ICC Test Championship event in 2017.
Previously, the top team in the Reliance ICC Test rankings received a cheque for $175,000, but, from 2013, it will receive a minimum of $450,000, rising to $500,000 in 2015. From 2016 there will be further increases in Test prize money.
The Reliance ICC Test player rankings will be updated on Tuesday, 4 December.
ODI Championship table
Meanwhile, Bangladesh has an outstanding opportunity to move ahead of the West Indies into seventh position on the Reliance ICC ODI Championship table.
After taking a 2-0 lead in the five-match series, Bangladesh is already guaranteed a place ahead of New Zealand in eighth position, but, to move up one more place, it needs to win the remaining three matches that will be played in Mirpur on 5, 7 and 8 December.
In the situation of Bangladesh winning these matches, it will jump to 87 ratings points while the West Indies will slip to 81 ratings points, two ahead of ninth-placed New Zealand.
If the West Indies bounces back and wins the remaining three matches, then it will finish on 92 ratings points while Bangladesh will end on 73 ratings points, one ahead of New Zealand.
The side that tops the Championship table on the 1 April cut-off date collects a cheque of US$175,000 along with a Shield, while the team that finishes second receives a cheque of US$75,000.
Reliance ICC Test Championship table (after the conclusion of Australia-South Africa Test series)
Rank Team Points
1. South Africa 123
2. England 117
3. Australia 114
4. Pakistan 109
5. India 106
6. Sri Lanka 96
7. West Indies 91
8. New Zealand 79
9. Bangladesh 0
Zimbabwe is currently unranked, as it has played insufficient matches. It has 167 points and a rating of 42.
