India, England top Test, ODI rankings after annual update

,India and England managed to retain top spots in the Test and ODI team rankings respectively, following the annual update of the ICC rankings on Thursday.

The rankings were updated after series results from 2015-16were removed, and outcomes from 2016-17 and 2017-18 are weighted at 50 percent, an ICC statement read.

   

England are the number one ranked ODI team with less than amonth to go for the 2019 World Cup, but India have managed to narrow the gap tojust two points.

India’s lead over second-placed New Zealand in the Testrankings has narrowed from eight to two points.

India were on 116 points and New Zealand on 108 before theupdate but Virat Kohli-led side’s 3-0 win over South Africa and 2-1 win in SriLanka being purged as part of the 2015-16 season sees them losing three pointswhile New Zealand’s two 2-0 defeats to Australia being removed sees them gainthree points.

In the only change ofpositions on the table, England have overtaken Australia to fourth position andare on 105 points. Australia are on 98 points after dropping six points as theyhad won four of the five series in 2015-16, no more part of the calculations.

In another significant movement, the gap between seventh-placedPakistan and eighth-placed West Indies has trimmed from 11 to two points.

In the ODI rankings, England have retained the top spot, butto go into the World Cup as the top-ranked side, they will need to beat Irelandin an upcoming one-off ODI and then beat Pakistan 3-2 or better in a homeseries, or lose to Ireland but then beat Pakistan 4-1 or better.

South Africa have overtaken New Zealand into third positionwhile another change in positions sees the West Indies moving ahead of SriLanka to seventh place.

No team has dropped outof the top 10, thus ensuring that the World Cup will see the 10 top-rankedsides in action.

Three of the four teams awarded ODI status at the end of theWorld Cricket League Division 2 will join the rankings once they have playedthe requisite eight qualifying matches.

However, Papua New Guinea has joined the rankings immediatelyhaving played several ODIs prior to April 2018.

The Netherlands, who already had ODI status, will need toplay two more ODIs to achieve a ranking. PTI

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