How Australia could go from fourth to second on ICC Test rankings without playing a game
THE thought of a team jumping from fourth to second on the ICC Test leaderboard without playing a match seems simply ludicrous. But it’s probably about to happen.
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IT’S well known the International Cricket Council’s rankings system is a fickle beast.
But the thought of a team jumping from fourth to second on the Test leaderboard without playing a match seems simply ludicrous.
That’s the scenario facing Australia, who will be cheering on a New Zealand victory over Pakistan across the ditch on Tuesday.
If the Kiwis can complete a 2-0 series win over the visitors at Seddon Park, the Aussies will miraculously jump to second on the ICC charts, second only behind India.
This is despite the fact Australia has won just one of its past six Test matches, and has most recently lost series to Sri Lanka (3-0) and South Africa (2-1).
Australia was handed the ICC’s Test mace as the world’s No. 1 team just a few months ago before the horror loss in Sri Lanka bundled them down to third on the ladder.
The Aussies then slipped to fourth when England drew their first match in India, but the hosts are on the verge of taking a 2-0 lead in that series as they hunt victory in Punjab.
Follow the day five action between New Zealand and Pakistan LIVE on Fox Sports 501 today, or in our Match Centre online.
Either way, even if England wins the remaining two Tests and draws the series against India, the Aussies will move to second on the Test rankings.
India will retain the mace while England will sit third, and Pakistan will slide down the rankings to be the fourth best team according to the ICC list.
And South Africa, who convincingly beat Australia in the first two matches Down Under, will remain in fifth spot on 101 rating points — just four behind the Aussies, and two behind both England and Pakistan.
India holds a solid lead at the top of the list on 117 rating points.
The Aussies, though, face a long road back to the top of the tree.
Even if Australia manages a 3-0 whitewash of Pakistan in the series beginning December 15, they will only improve by four rating points and India will remain on top.
The fact Australia will be — at least on paper — the second-best Test playing nation in world cricket despite a run of bad form proves just how fickle the ICC rankings are.
Australia are also in danger of losing their No. 1 spot in one day internationals if they lose to New Zealand in a three-match ODI series starting on Sunday.
If the Kiwis win 3-0, the Aussies will drop from first to equal second on the ODI ladder.
Originally published as How Australia could go from fourth to second on ICC Test rankings without playing a game
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