DUBAI – South Africa will lose its second position in the Test cricket rankings to England next week.
South Africa have not played Test cricket since their 2-0 series loss to host Sri Lanka in July, but are set to be overtaken by England who are currently two matches into their three-Test series, also against Sri Lanka at home.
England already have an unassailable 2-0 lead going into the final Test starting in Colombo on Friday. The rankings will be readjusted after the final Test.
If England win the Colombo Test, they will finish on 108 points, two more than South Africa, while if Sri Lanka win it will mean England will join South Africa on 106 points but will be ranked above the Proteas by a fraction of a point.
A drawn Test will mean England will finish on 107 points – nine points behind number-one ranked India and one point ahead of South Africa – while Sri Lanka will end on 94 points in this scenario after starting the series on 97 points.
If England win the Colombo Test, they will finish on 108 points, two more than South Africa. Photo: James Elsmby/EPA
Test rankings:
1 India 116
2 South Africa 106
3 England 105
4 New Zealand 102
5 Australia 102
6 Sri Lanka 97
7 Pakistan 95
8 Windies 76
9 Bangladesh 61
10 Zimbabwe 13