India topples down ICC Test rankings following recent 3-1 series thrashing by England

India's Test team has fallen headlong down the International Cricket Council's (ICC) rankings following their latest, series-deciding humiliation by England at the weekend.

It is not the most desirable situation for a nation now spearheading a controversial 'big three' group, with England and Australia as the others, in global strategic terms. But it is a development that would not exactly sadden the South Africans, aware of the chilly relations in recent times between the dictatorial BCCI and an often-cowed CSA.

If South Africa is being mockingly marginalized in several ways, it is not yet being reflected on the Test ladder, where Hashim Amla's side (124) holds a defiant lead of one rating point over the second-placed Australia, Sport24 reported.

India, though, are the big movers following their fifth-Test rout at the hands of resurgent England at The Oval, having sunk into double figures (96 points) and only fifth place on the rankings as they surrendered the series 3-1 from a 1-0 lead.

England has settled into third for the time being on 104 points, followed by Sri Lanka in fourth on 101; the last-named team have just seen off Pakistan 2-0 in a home series, a fitting Test farewell for veteran run machine Mahela Jayawardene, the report added.