Published: Aug 19, 2016, 11:48 AM (IST)
Edited: Aug 22, 2016, 03:38 PM (IST)
After levelling the series against England in the four-match Test series by 2-2 by winning the last match at The Oval, Pakistan moved up to third spot in the ICC Test rankings. At that time, the third match between Sri Lanka and Australia was still going on and the result of the match was going to decide further changes in ICC Test team rankings.
As expected, Sri Lanka won that match by 163 runs, crushing the Australian side very badly in the series of three Tests by 3-0. It was surely a historic moment for Sri Lankan side as they won a Test series for the second time against Australia and whitewashed them for the first time. Obviously, whitewashing an Australian side in a Tests series is surely a huge achievement but it’s a fact that they have been performing poorly in subcontinent in last one decade. ALSO READ: Sri Lanka’s 1st whitewash against Australia and 18 other statistical highlights
That victory for Sri Lanka team again brought some changes to the rankings as Indian Test side moved to the top spot followed by Pakistan at third.
Pakistan is currently not going to play any Test for next one month but there is still a slight chance for them to become the no. 1 Test team. This can only be possible if India either draw or lose the fourth and final Test against West Indies, which is least likely to happen. ALSO READ: Pakistan’s record in Tests in England and at The Oval over the years
It is evident that India losing a Test against West Indies in the fourth match is least likely to happen but if the Caribbean side shows some courage or rain interrupts and somehow it ends in a draw, then it will be huge achievement for Pakistan as they will become the new No. 1 side in Test.
NOTE: With four days of the fourth Test of West Indies vs India at Port of Spain being washed out, there is no chance of getting any result in this match and is likely to end it in draw. This draw will make sure that India will lose their no. 1 Test spot to their arch-rivals Pakistan and as it was announced earlier by ICC, the Test mace for being the next top team in the rankings will handed over after the completion of West Indies vs India Test series.
