Latest ICC Test Rankings: England drop to fifth spot after losing to West Indies
Following their shock 1-2 series defeat at the hands of West Indies in the Caribbean, England have dropped to fifth in the latest ICC Test Rankings.
Prior to the series, England had been on the third spot with 108 rating points. However, the defeats in the first two Tests of the series in the West Indies have resulted in them losing four points and slipping behind Australia.
Although both Australia and England possess 104 rating points, the former edge ahead of their Ashes rivals on the basis of decimal points.
India continue to occupy the number one position in the Test rankings with 116 rating points. South Africa are close on their heels and are just six points away at the second spot. A 2-0 clean sweep of Sri Lanka will see the Proteas cut down the deficit to just four points.
With 107 rating points, New Zealand are presently ranked third on the table. Even a 3-0 clean sweep of Bangladesh will only lift them to 109 rating points. Unless South Africa slip up in the ongoing Test series against Sri Lanka, the Blackcaps cannot move from the third spot in the immediate future.
Only one point separates Sri Lanka and Pakistan in the middle of the table. The Lankans currently occupy the sixth spot with 89 rating points. However, a 0-2 defeat against South Africa could see them losing two points and slipping below Pakistan to the seventh position.
Meanwhile, the West Indies have gained seven points to shore up their eighth rank. The 2-1 series victory against England has lifted the men from the Caribbean to 77 rating points. Bangladesh trail them at the ninth spot by 8 points.
Zimbabwe have accrued just 13 rating points and are hence ranked tenth in the table.
Latest ICC Test Rankings
#1 India - 116 rating points
#2 South Africa - 110
#3 New Zealand - 107
#4 Australia - 104
#5 England - 104
#6 Sri Lanka - 89
#7 Pakistan - 88
#8 West Indies - 77
#9 Bangladesh - 69
#10 Zimbabwe - 13
(Note: All rankings are accurate as of 13th February 2019)