India return to No.1 Test spot

India officially moved to the top spot in the International Cricket Council (ICC) Test rankings, after the Basil D'Oliveira Trophy came to a close with a 2-1 win to England.

Published : Jan 26, 2016 22:42 IST , Mumbai

India moved to second on the rankings in December when they mauled South Africa 3-0 on home soil. It was the first time South Africa had been beaten away from home in nine years.
India moved to second on the rankings in December when they mauled South Africa 3-0 on home soil. It was the first time South Africa had been beaten away from home in nine years.
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India moved to second on the rankings in December when they mauled South Africa 3-0 on home soil. It was the first time South Africa had been beaten away from home in nine years.

India officially moved to the top spot in the International Cricket Council (ICC) Test rankings, after the Basil D'Oliveira Trophy came to a close with a 2-1 win to England. >South Africa completed a 280-run victory to gain their first victory in the series, in the fourth and final Test in Centurion, but their two previous losses had already consigned them to a slide in rankings.

South Africa were moved from the top spot after three and a half years, a period of clinical authority for them. But the 3-0 whitewash they suffered in India this year proved to be a huge blow, for not only did it make their hold over the top spot loose, it also seemed to psychologically impede them with regards to their confidence in the following home series against England.

England were the No. 1 ranked Test team before South Africa, a position they enjoyed for a year, having taken over from India in the 2011 English summer, which oversaw India's 0-4 defeat in four Tests in England. This was a period of remarkable slide for India, who were whitewashed again in 2011-12 in Australia.

But ever since Virat Kohli has taken over India's Test captaincy, since the start of 2015, India have enjoyed success. Their 0-2 defeat against Australia notwithstanding, they drew a rain-marred Test against Bangladesh in Fatullah, won a Test series 2-1 in Sri Lanka, and defeated South Africa at home. The win against South Africa pushed them to the No. 2 spot in Test rankings.

India now have 110 rating points, and are followed by Australia and South Africa. Pakistan are fourth, ahead of England (5th), New Zealand (6), Sri Lanka (7), West Indies (8), Bangladesh (9) and Zimbabwe (10).

India may be moved away from their No.1 Test spot if Australia win their two-Test series in New Zealand that ends on February 24.

The bowling table is headed by England’s Stuart Broad, while Ravichandran Ashwin is the top-ranked all-rounder. Steve Smith continues to top the batting rankings ahead of Kane Williamson.

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