South Africa leapfrog England and New Zealand to 2nd in Test rankings, Pakistan back down to 7th

[Abdullah719]

South Africa have overtaken New Zealand and England to take second position in the MRF Tyres ICC Test Team Rankings after sweeping their home series against Pakistan 3-0.
South Africa have gained four points to reach 110 points, two points above England in the list led by India (116 points) after their 2-1 victory over Australia in a four-match series that ended last week.

Pakistan have lost one position, slipping behind Sri Lanka to seventh place. Pakistan started the series with 92 points but are now on 88 points, three points less than Sri Lanka.

New Zealand are one point behind England at 107 points. England will have to win their upcoming three-match series against the Windies starting on 23 January to remain ahead of New Zealand.

https://www.icc-cricket.com/media-releases/974688

 

[MenInG]

had to happen! Maybe better days ahead.

 

[Mamoon]

We are at our rightful position.

 

[Bhaijaan]

So proud to see India reign supreme in the only format that counts.

Wonderful achievement for the nation that eats, lives and breathes cricket.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Not sure SA deserve no.2. They were thrashed 2-0 in SL and will get demolished in India later this year as well . I rate NZ and current England team higher.

 

[Shandarchowka]

Not sure SA deserve no.2. They were thrashed 2-0 in SL and will get demolished in India later this year as well . I rate NZ and current England team higher.

I back South Africa to defeat India in India later this year.

 

[Hasan2K8]

I don’t know why people underrate Sri Lanka so much. They are a good Test side. Maybe not as good in ODI now but test wise theh are good. They beat aus few years ago whitewashed them, beat SA 2-0. They have a good group for test format and T20s they are dangerous too. It’s in ODI they’ll struggle but then again they easily chased 320plus against India last Champions trophy.

 

[Shandarchowka]

The top 7 teams barring Sri Lanka can defeat each other provided conditions/toss suit them I feel. Pakistan should be aghast at themselves for not winning against New Zealand in UAE of all freaking places

 

[Nikhil_cric]

I back South Africa to defeat India in India later this year.

Lol good luck with that prediction. That's optimistic beyond the point of delusion. Saffers will be lucky to avoid a whitewash just like last time when rain in Bangalore saved them.

 

[Shandarchowka]

Lol good luck with that prediction. That's optimistic beyond the point of delusion. Saffers will be lucky to avoid a whitewash just like last time when rain in Bangalore saved them.

I just hope all the tosses go in favor of Faf and you will be in for some fun. Last time around even Elgar was able to nip out wickets on day 1. Underestimate Keshav and Harmer at your own peril.

 

[BreadPakoda]

I just hope all the tosses go in favor of Faf

I hope too, seen too many one-sided games.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

I just hope all the tosses go in favor of Faf and you will be in for some fun. Last time around even Elgar was able to nip out wickets on day 1. Underestimate Keshav and Harmer at your own peril.

And? They still lost. Last time they had AB to score a few runs. This time they'll get smashed as our bowling and batting are both better and they are weaker. Besides we are not Pakistan who need toss to beat OZ in UAE. We are the least toss dependent team in home conditions and win away when we win toss without fail.

 

[Shandarchowka]

And? They still lost. Last time they had AB to score a few runs. This time they'll get smashed as our bowling and batting are both better and they are weaker. Besides we are not Pakistan who need toss to beat OZ in UAE. We are the least toss dependent team in home conditions and win away when we win toss without fail.

We'll see. I expect Faf to spring surprises this time around.

 

[Josh]

We'll see. I expect Faf to spring surprises this time around.

England won all the tosses and still got 4-0 hammering in India last time they toured.

 

[Shandarchowka]

England won all the tosses and still got 4-0 hammering in India last time they toured.

That was a weak England team. Moeen was out of form and hot and cold Rashid was the main spinner. No wonder they lost. If England tours India today, I expect them to beat Indians if they win the tosses.

 

[Abdullah]

I think we are as good as all the teams except India , England and SA.
Australia is a home and away thing , so is NZ. We handed them the series they won, and it wouldn't have happened had hafeez retired sooner.
SL we will prove we are better than them in August with or without sarfaraz.
Onwards and upwards.

 

[Dr_Bassim]

I back South Africa to defeat India in India later this year.

If South Africa wins one test I'd be surprised.

Pujara is coming off age, they have the upcoming Shaw and Kohli is no mug with the bat.

South Africa will be castrated into submission.

 

[Itachi]

I just hope all the tosses go in favor of Faf and you will be in for some fun. Last time around even Elgar was able to nip out wickets on day 1. Underestimate Keshav and Harmer at your own peril.

Dream as you want. Reality is harsh.

 

[Shandarchowka]

If South Africa wins one test I'd be surprised.

Pujara is coming off age, they have the upcoming Shaw and Kohli is no mug with the bat.

South Africa will be castrated into submission.

Doctor - If anything, Pujara is at his peak now. Only way for him is going down. Kohli is still the best in the world and Shaw is exciting. True. But South Africa are no mugs. Markram, Quinton, Faf, Amla 2.0, Keshav, Rabada!, Steyn 2.0 are going to give them a tough time. Tosses will definitely play a massive role in that series.

 

[Dr_Bassim]

Doctor - If anything, Pujara is at his peak now. Only way for him is going down. Kohli is still the best in the world and Shaw is exciting. True. But South Africa are no mugs. Markram, Quinton, Faf, Amla 2.0, Keshav, Rabada!, Steyn 2.0 are going to give them a tough time. Tosses will definitely play a massive role in that series.

You might be wishing here, though.

I'll make a prediction.

Even if India loses all 4 tosses, India will still win.

Are you willing to bet something on it?

 

[Nikhil_cric]

I don’t know why people underrate Sri Lanka so much. They are a good Test side. Maybe not as good in ODI now but test wise theh are good. They beat aus few years ago whitewashed them, beat SA 2-0. They have a good group for test format and T20s they are dangerous too. It’s in ODI they’ll struggle but then again they easily chased 320plus against India last Champions trophy.

Hardly a good side. They got whitewashed at home by India, England and lost to Pakistan as well. They are the weakest side in home conditions in top 8. The only really impressive result was their whitewash of PAK in UAE.

 

[Shandarchowka]

You might be wishing here, though.

I'll make a prediction.

Even if India loses all 4 tosses, India will still win.

Are you willing to bet something on it?

Ok my prediction is that if India produce spin oriented pitches as always, and if Faf manages to win a toss(es), South Africa will win that match(es)

 

[WhenSultansBowled]

In a 3 test match series vs WI in WI; I'd back WI to win 2-1.

You can't expect different result doing the same absurd thing over and over again

 

[Shandarchowka]

In a 3 test match series vs WI in WI; I'd back WI to win 2-1.

You can't expect different result doing the same absurd thing over and over again

Surprisingly, WI in WI is a different preposition these days. They have some very good fast bowlers. Bangladesh was shredded into thousand pieces last time they toured. But Pakistan should still manage to win, you'd expect.

 

[Hasan123]

South Africa are still a strong team especially at home. In Asia I think they will struggle. Not sure about their batting line up versus spin.

England seem to have improved under Root. I think Australia will bounce back once Smith and Warner have returned. The fight for the test championship will be between SA,India,England,and Australia IMO.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

South Africa are still a strong team especially at home. In Asia I think they will struggle. Not sure about their batting line up versus spin.

England seem to have improved under Root. I think Australia will bounce back once Smith and Warner have returned. The fight for the test championship will be between SA,India,England,and Australia IMO.

Don't underestimate NZ. They are a very capable team as they have been proving of late.

 

[RyanRyan10]

BD should overtake Pak in few years
The rating difference between the two sides is just 19

 

[Hasan123]

Don't underestimate NZ. They are a very capable team as they have been proving of late.

Don't see them winning in Australia and South Africa. Also think India would beat them in India.

At home , they can beat anyone though.

 

[Stalin]

BD should overtake Pak in few years
The rating difference between the two sides is just 19

They already have IMO. They have better batsmen and better spinners than Pak at the moment. They will beat Pak anywhere in Asia. Out of it, they will be smashed into oblivion.

 

[Gullycricket]

The top 7 teams barring Sri Lanka can defeat each other provided conditions/toss suit them I feel. Pakistan should be aghast at themselves for not winning against New Zealand in UAE of all freaking places

This a thousand times

 

[Sin Nombre]

Ok my prediction is that if India produce spin oriented pitches as always, and if Faf manages to win a toss(es), South Africa will win that match(es)

And if that fails to happen, you will stop posting nonsense?

 

[geraltofrivia]

Mooen was “out of form” because the Indians made him look out of form. It isn’t a coincidence that mooen is out of form always in away series. He just isn’t that good. Do Pakistani players go “out of form” in Australia every time conveniently?

 

[geraltofrivia]

All these guys averaged like 3 in the last series.

 

[geraltofrivia]

Pak and SL cannot beat India anywhere no matter the conditions no matter the toss. We have better pacers, better spinners, better batsmen for all conditions compared to these two teams.

 

[Rayyman]

Tests are an archaic format.

Requires less run scoring, and more time allows slow players to survive.

Also the least exciting.

White ball cricket is the future.