Australia swaps places with England after Ashes triumph

Australia’s innings-and-123 run win over England on the final day of the fifth and final Ashes Test has pushed it to the third spot in the latest ICC team rankings.

Australia (104 points) has replaced England (99 points), which has dropped to the fifth position following the conclusion of the Ashes in Sydney on Monday.

READ: Australia completes dominant 4-0 Ashes series rout of England

Australia is now trailing No. 1 ranked India (124) by 20 points, and is seven points behind second-ranked South Africa (111) - the two teams are squaring off in a three-Test series in the rainbow nation, which concludes at the  Wanderers on January 28, following which the Test team rankings will be updated.

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Australia will now travel to South Africa where it plays a four-Test series from March 1 to April 3, while England’s next series is against New Zealand from March 22 to April 3 when it will play a two-Test series.

READ: Anderson's assessment of England's Ashes performance

In its home season, England will host Pakistan for a two-Test series and India for five Tests.