India vaults into second place following 3-0 series win over South Africa

The series result has helped Virat Kohli’s side gain 10 points, which has lifted it from 100 points to 110 points and ahead of Australia and Pakistan, which have slipped one place each to third and fourth, respectively.

Hashim Amla’s side has retained its number-one Test ranking but its lead at the top has been slashed from 16 points to just four points.

India has no more Test matches before the annual 1 April cut-off date, but third-ranked Australia will host eighth-ranked West Indies in a three-Test series from 10 December, sixth-ranked New Zealand will go head to head with seventh-ranked Sri Lanka also from 10 December, while fifth-ranked England will travel to South Africa for a four-Test series which will start in Durban on 26 December.

To finish as the number-one ranked Test side at the annual cut-off date, South Africa will have to, at least, draw the series with England. Its failure to do so, will result in it falling from the top pedestal and handing the number-one position to Australia (provided it wins the series against the West Indies by 3-0).

ICC Test Championship (as on 7 December, after the conclusion of India-South Africa Test series)

Rank   Team              Points

1          South Africa   114

2          India                110

3          Australia         109
4          Pakistan          106
5          England           99

6          New Zealand   95
7          Sri Lanka        93
8          West Indies     76
9          Bangladesh     47
10        Zimbabwe       5

(Developed by David Kendix)