ICC Rankings: Australia leapfrog India to reclaim top spot in Tests

Despite not playing Test cricket for a while due to IPL 2024, Australia dethroned India as the number 1 Test side and are the new top-ranked team in the ICC rankings following the annual update that drops results from the 2020-21 season and reflects all series completed since May 2021.

Australia, who defeated India in the last World Test Championship final, now lead the table with 124 rating points. India, who ceded top position to them, are just four points behind and 15 points clear of third-placed England. South Africa are the fourth team above the 100-point mark with 103 points.

India slipped mainly because their 2-1 series win in Australia in 2020-21 has dropped from the rankings. However, India is still the number 1 team in ODIs and T20Is.

The order of teams ranked from third to ninth remains the same. Only nine teams are now ranked as Afghanistan and Ireland have yet to play sufficient Tests while Zimbabwe too are out as they have played only three Tests over the past three years. Teams need to play a minimum of eight Tests over a three-year period to get on the rankings table.