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India slip to fifth spot in ICC Test rankings

July 14, 2012 19:16 IST
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India [ Images ], who were the No. 1 Test side this time a year ago, have lost a position to slip to the fifth spot now in the latest ICC [ Images ] Test Championship rankings table after the annual update took place.

The Indian team that last played a Test match in January against Australia [ Images ], has swapped places with Pakistan.

Pakistan, despite a 0-1 defeat in the three-Test series, which finished in Sri Lanka [ Images ] on Thursday, have moved up to fourth position, pushing M S Dhoni's [ Images ] men down to number five.

Meanwhile, England [ Images ] extended their lead as top Test team after gaining 122 ratings points, while Australia moved to the second place.

Although South Africa [ Images ] has fallen to third spot, they can still leapfrog into top position if they manage to win the three-match Test series against England, which begins at The Oval on July 19.

If South Africa win the series 1-0 or 2-1 it will be level on ratings points with England but when the rankings are calculated to a fraction of a decimal point then Graeme Smith's [ Images ] team will have the edge.

A drawn series or a 1-0 win will mean England retain the number one position and if Andrew Strauss's [ Images ] side were to win 2-0 or 3-0 then South Africa would tumble to fourth spot.

Lower down the table, West Indies [ Images ] have fallen below New Zealand [ Images ], who are now placed at seventh position.

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