India held on to their second position, while South Africa dropped three places to sixth in the latest Test cricket rankings released by the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Tuesday.
India now lead third-placed Pakistan by just one point following the annual update with the results from 2012-13 no longer included in the calculations and outcomes from the 2014-15 series weighted at 50 percent, according to ICC.
India played Test matches for the last time against South Africa at home in November-December 2015.
Australia have opened up a six-point gap over India at the top, while the annual Test update has resulted in South Africa dropping from third position to sixth after conceding 17 points. This is due to South Africa's victories over England, Australia, New Zealand and Pakistan in 2012-13 all being dropped from the rankings calculations.
Pakistan have benefitted from the annual update as defeat against South Africa by 0-3 in 2012-13 no longer counts, while the 0-2 loss to Sri Lanka in 2014-15 has its weighting reduced to 50 percent.
The annual update has also affected the West Indies, who have retained their eight position but have dropped from 76 points to 65 points. This is because their victories over New Zealand, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe in 2012-13 have all been dropped from calculations.
The gap between the West Indies and ninth-ranked Bangladesh has been slashed from 29 points to just eight points.
With Sri Lanka and Pakistan visiting England this summer for three and four Tests respectively, Australia travelling to Sri Lanka in July for three Tests and South Africa hosting New Zealand in August for two Tests, the series outcomes may well result in significant movements on the Test Team rankings.
--IANS
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