England test ranking drops

ENGLAND have dropped a place to number six in the International Cricket Council’s Test rankings, leaving new captain Ben Stokes in charge of a side with its lowest points total in 27 years.

The ICC’S annual update, which drops results from the 2018/19 season and places greater weighting on recent matches, sees England switch places with Pakistan and lose their spot in the world’s top teams.

The fall is hardly a surprise given a record of one win in their last 17 attempts, including a 4-0 Ashes defeat this winter which helped

Australia increase their lead in first place. The Aussies have gone from one point ahead of India to nine in front, with inaugural Test champions New Zealand third and South Africa fourth.

By slipping to an overall rating of just 88 points, England now sit at their worst rating since 1995.

Speaking at his captaincy unveiling, Durham all-rounder Stokes admitted the team’s recent run of results was unacceptable.

He said: “I think if we’re completely realistic winning one game in 17 is nowhere near good enough.”