Australia tops ICC Test rankings, Pakistan third

The Reliance ICC Test Team Rankings Table has shown no movement as Australia remains top-ranked with 123 ratings points, while South Africa a close second. According to the latest Test team rankings issued by the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Tuesday, Pakistan stands at third position with 103 points, India at fourth with 102, England at fifth with 100 and Sri Lanka at sixth with 96 points. Meanwhile, with England and India locking horns in a Test series beginning July 9, and Sri Lanka playing against South Africa from July 16, some movement is likely in the rankings in the coming weeks. A 5-0 clean sweep by either fifth-ranked England or fourth-ranked India could see either team leap into third position, while a loss by that margin could see them drop as low as seventh. For South Africa, a 2-0 series' win could see the side topple Australia from the top of the perch to regain the number one position, while a clean sweep for Sri Lanka could see the side move as high as fourth in the Test rankings. In Test batsmen, AB de Villiers of South Africa remained at top slot with 922 points and a batting average of 51.94, K Sangakkara of Sri Lanka at number two with 896 points and an average of 58.63 while Hashim Amla of SA remained at third position with 873 points averaging 51.35. Pakistan skipper Misbah-ul-Haq was sixth on the table with 824 points. In Test bowlers category, Dale Steyn clinched first position with 898 points and an average of 23.01, Ryan Harris of Australia remained at second position with 870 points and an average of 22.56 while Vernon Philander was third on the list with 865 points and an average of 20.11.