NO THREAT TO INDIA’S NO. 1 STATUS
Dubai, Jan. 3: India’s status as the no. 1 Test side in the rankings will remain intact irrespective of how the series against South Africa pans out, but the Proteas will join the visitors at the top if they win all the three matches.
Faf du Plessis’s side is presently 13 points behind Virat Kohli’s team, which is sitting on top of the table on 124 points.
However, both the sides will finish on 118 points if the South Africa side makes a clean sweep of the series which starts in Cape Town on January 5, the International Cricket Council said in a statement.
Even in that scenario, India will be ranked above South Africa when the points are calculated beyond the decimal point. In such a situation, India will be on 118.47 points, while South Africa will be on 117.53.
On the other side of the coin, if India win all the three Tests of the series, then they will move to 128 points while South Africa will slip to 107 points. South Africa will be level on points with India at the top of the rankings if they sweep the series. South Africa will be level on points with India at the top of the rankings if they sweep the series.
Meanwhile, Australia have been guaranteed third place after leading the Ashes series 3- 0 with the fifth and final Test to begin in Sydney. However, England will have to win the Test to avoid finishing in fifth place. If Australia win the series 4- 0, then they will finish third on 104 points and England will end on fifth with 99 points.