Pakistan closes the gap in rankings

Pakistan has narrowed in the gap with the top four sides in the ICC Test cricket rankings after inflicting a 3-0 whitewash on World No. 1 England, although it remains at fifth place in the table. Pakistan had entered the series in fifth position with 99 rating points and moved to 108 points and within striking distance of the top four for the first time since 2007.

Pakistan is just three points behind India and Australia, and nine points behind second-ranked South Africa. England, in contrast, has retained its No. 1 ranking, which it has held since defeating India at home last summer. Nevertheless, Andrew Strauss's side has plummeted from 125 points to 118 points to lead second-ranked South Africa by just one point.

England has placed its lead in jeopardy before it heads to Sri Lanka for a two-Test series next month. Pakistan's 3-0 series win has also kept alive South Africa's chances of finishing as the top-ranked side at the April 1 annual cut-off date and with it, win a prize of $175,000. South Africa will have to win all the three Tests against host New Zealand from March 7 to 27 to make this happen.

For Pakistan, this is the highest rating since it climbed to 108 points in May 2007. It is also for the first time that Pakistan has defeated England in all the Tests of a series in 22 attempts.

For England, it was its first series loss since 2008-09 when it suffered a 1-0 defeat at the hands of the West Indies, while it is the first time since the 2006-07 Ashes in Australia that England has lost all the Tests of a series.

Pakistan's next Test series is against Sri Lanka between May and June and while it will have to win that series comfortably to retain its rating, it can gain a place or two depending on how the series in England this summer between England and South Africa pans out.