SA back on top of the world

Cape Town - The Proteas have reclaimed the No 1 Test position on the ICC Test Team Championship after holding Sri Lanka to a draw in the second Test in Colombo on Monday.

As it happened: Sri Lanka v South Africa

The result has given the Proteas a 1-0 series win.

South Africa had entered the two-Test series against Sri Lanka on equal points with Australia (123 ratings points).

However, Hashim Amla’s side was ranked below Australia when ratings were calculated beyond the decimal point.

The 1-0 series win has now put South Africa ahead of Australia on 124 ratings points and has also allowed them to regain the position they had surrendered to Michael Clarke’s side on May 1, 2014 following the annual Test update.

South Africa will now play Zimbabwe in a one-off Test in Harare starting on August 9.

But when Australia travel to the Sheikhdom in October to play Pakistan in their two-Test series, they will be out to get back on top of the tree.

And to make that happen, they will have to win the series, be it by a 1-0 or 2-0 margin.

ICC Test Team Rankings table

1. South Africa - 124             
2. Australia - 123            
3. Pakistan - 103   
4. India - 102    
5. England - 100              
6. Sri Lanka - 95               
7. New Zealand - 93
8. West Indies - 74
9. Zimbabwe - 40
10. Bangladesh - 21