Australia jump to 3rd in ICC Test rankings after 5-0 Ashes whitewash

Australia have jumped to 3rd place in ICC Test rankings after defeating England 5-0 in Ashes

Dubai - Australia’s 281-run victory over England in the fifth and final Ashes Test in Sydney Sunday has helped them to jump two places to third in the ICC Test team rankings.

Australia’s 5-0 whitewash of England in the Ashes was completed at SCG today when Boyd Rankin became the final English batsman to fall on Day 3. England, chasing a highly improbable target of 448 runs, fell short by 281 runs and were skittled out for 166 in their 2nd innings.

Ryan Harris took 5-wickets in the final innings (a total of eight in the match), and was named the Man of the Match for his performance.

Mitchell Johnson, who took a whopping 37 wickets in the series at an average of 13.97, was named the Man of the Series.

The 5-0 series win has helped Australia gain 10 points to finish on 111, six behind second-ranked India. South Africa are the clear leader with 133.

England, on the other hand, have conceded nine points to end at 107, thereby moving down a place to fourth.

Australia had entered the Ashes in fifth position on 101 points but after taking a 4-0 lead, they were guaranteed fourth on the table. Michael Clarke‘s side needed to either draw or win the Sydney Test to be able to move up two places to third.

Australia next visit South Africa for a three-Test series from Feb 12 while England’s next assignment is a two-Test series against Sri Lanka from June 12. No.2 ranked India will be featuring in a two-Test series from Feb 10 against New Zealand.

The following is the latest ICC Test team rankings table released Sunday, after the Ashes series:

1 South Africa 133 points

2 India 117

3 Australia 111

4 England 107

5 Pakistan 102

6 Sri Lanka 88

7 West Indies 88

8 New Zealand 75

9 Zimbabwe 34

10 Bangladesh 18