India stay at number one

India in Sri Lanka
India stay at number one
Friday 30-July-2010 12:16

India have retained the number one position on the Test Championship table and are now 11 ratings points clear of South Africa.

By virtue of earning a draw in the second Test against Sri Lanka, India have also ensured that they will still be on top of the table following the conclusion of the current series irrespective of how the third Test pans out.

The annual update of both the ICC Test and ODI Championship tables take place so that both lists continue to reflect recent form with older results being discarded.

India have benefitted hugely from the annual update to the Test rankings as they have gained six ratings points to jump from 124 ratings points to 130, 11 ahead of their closest rival South Africa, who had dropped one ratings point to 119.

However, India's 11-point lead at the top will be shortlived following their failure to win the current series in Sri Lanka.

If India win the third Test to draw the series at one-all, they will drop to 127 ratings points, while Sri Lanka will move into third place on 115 rating points, ahead of both Australia and England.

If the Test is drawn, India will slip to 124 ratings points, just five points ahead of both South Africa and Sri Lanka. However, Kumar Sangakkara's side will be placed just below Graeme Smith's side when the ratings are calculated beyond the decimal point.

Another defeat for India will not only see them plummet to 122 ratings points but will lift Sri Lanka to 121 ratings points and into second position on the Test Championship for only the second time since the current Test ranking system was introduced in 2003.

Sri Lanka had previously claimed second spot on the Test Championship in late August last year following a series win over New Zealand and stayed there until it lost 2-0 to India in December.