Dubai, Nov 22: South Africa has slipped to third on the Reliance ICC Test Championship table following its drawn home series against Australia, which concluded in dramatic circumstances in Johannesburg on Monday.
The Proteas had been ranked in second position but the 1-1 series result against the lower ranked Australia meant it lost one ratings point and fell below India, which moves up to second place on the ladder.
Meanwhile, Australia’s thrilling and series-saving two-wicket victory in Johannesburg has earned it a point and it now sits 11 ratings points behind South Africa, in fourth place.
The match was not a very successful one for some of both team’s leading lights with Graeme Smith, Michael Hussey, Shane Watson and Mitchell Johnson all slipping down the respective rankings.
SA skipper Smith loses five places and drops out of the top 10 of the Reliance ICC Player Rankings for Test batsmen while Australia’s Hussey concedes two places to number 14 in the latest rankings.
Hashim Amla’s second innings century earns him a place up the log to sixth position while team-mate AB de Villiers picks up two places and now sits in 12th spot.
Johnson drops four places in the bowling charts and now sits in 13th position, equal with England’s Chris Tremlett, while Watson loses two places on the same chart.
Reliance ICC Test Championship (as of 22 November, after South Africa v Australia series)
| Rank | Team | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | England | 125 |
| 2 | India | 117 |
| 3 | South Africa | 116 |
| 4 | Australia | 105 |
| 5 | Sri Lanka | 99 |
| 6 | Pakistan | 98 |
| 7 | West Indies | 88 |
| 8 | New Zealand | 79 |
| 9 | Bangladesh | 9 |
