India, which was the No. 1 Test side this time a year ago, has lost a position to slip to the fifth spot now in the latest ICC Test championship rankings table after the annual update took place on Saturday.
The Indian team that last played a Test match in January against Australia, has swapped places with Pakistan.
Pakistan, despite a 0-1 defeat in the three-Test series, which finished in Sri Lanka on Thursday, has moved up to fourth position, pushing M.S. Dhoni’s men down to No. 5.
Meanwhile, England extended its lead as top Test team after gaining 122 ratings points, while Australia moved to the second place.
Although South Africa has fallen to third spot, it can still leapfrog into top position if it manages to win the three-match Test series against England, which begins at The Oval on July 19.
If South Africa wins the series 1-0 or 2-1 it will be level on ratings points with England but when the rankings are calculated to a fraction of a decimal point then Graeme Smith’s team will have the edge.
A drawn series or a 1-0 win will mean England retain the No. 1 position and if Andrew Strauss’s side was to win 2-0 or 3-0 then South Africa would tumble to fourth spot.
Lower down the table, West Indies has fallen below New Zealand, which is now placed at seventh position.
