Australia drop to fifth in ICC rankings

Australia have dropped to fifth place in ICC Test rankings after losing Ashes to England.

SYDNEY: Australia have dropped to fifth place in the International Cricket Council (ICC) Test rankings after losing the Ashes to England, who edged closer to second-placed South Africa on the latest official list issued.

Third-placed England went into the series with 112 rating points and have added three to their tally following their 3-1 victory in Australia. England now trail South Africa by two rating points after Graeme Smith’s team drew the three-match home series against table-topper India 1-1.

Australia lost three rating points that dropped them behind Sri Lanka. New Zealand have an opportunity to rise to the sixth place if they can beat Pakistan in the two-Test series.

ICC Test rankings

Teams                   Points

India                      128

South Africa         117

England                 115

Sri Lanka              109

Australia               107

Pakistan                88

West Indies           85

New Zealand        80

Bangladesh           7

Published in The Express Tribune, January 8^th, 2011.